Modulation of stat5 expression

ABSTRACT

Compounds, compositions and methods are provided for modulating the expression of STAT5. The compositions comprise oligonucleotides, targeted to nucleic acid encoding STAT5. Methods of using these compounds for modulation of STAT5 expression and for diagnosis and treatment of diseases and conditions associated with expression of STAT5 are provided.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/704,263, filed Nov. 6, 2003, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

Compositions and methods for modulating the expression of STAT5 are described herein. In particular, the present application relates to antisense compounds, particularly oligonucleotide compounds, which, in preferred embodiments, hybridize with nucleic acid molecules encoding STAT5. Such compounds are shown herein to modulate the expression of STAT5.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Many important cellular processes are regulated by cytokines, hormones and growth factors which interact with cell-surface receptors. Signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) proteins play a crucial role in coordinating the response of cells to cytokine receptor stimulation by acting as cytosolic messengers and nuclear transcription factors. Upon cytokine stimulation, STATs are phosphorylated on a conserved tyrosine residue. This phosphorylation can be catalyzed by the Janus (JAK) family kinases, intrinsic cellular receptor kinases or other cellular tyrosine kinases. Activated, phosphorylated STATs then dimerize and translocate to the nucleus, where they bind to DNA or act with other DNA binding proteins in multiprotein complexes. These complexes regulate gene transcription in a cascade of intracellular signaling events that ultimately affects a wide range of biological processes, including cell growth and differentiation, the immune response, antiviral activity, and homeostasis (Grimley et al., Cytokine Growth Factor Rev., 1999, 10, 131-157; Lin et al., Oncogene, 2000, 19, 2496-2504).

The STATs were originally discovered as critical players in interferon signaling mediated by cytokine receptors lacking intrinsic tyrosine kinase domains and employing the JAK kinases. To date, seven STAT family members have been described: STAT1, STAT2, STAT3, STAT4, STAT5A, STAT5B and STAT6 (Bromberg, J. Clin. Invest., 2002, 109, 1139-1142). STAT5A (also known as mammary gland factor, MGF) and STAT5B are two distinctly encoded proteins. STAT5A was originally identified as the prolactin-stimulated ovine gland mammary gland factor MGF (Wakao et al., Embo J., 1994, 13, 2182-2191), but was subsequently characterized as member of the STAT family when it was identified as an interleukin-2 induced STAT protein (Hou et al., Immunity, 1995, 2, 321-329). STAT5B was identified as an additional member of the STAT family that is similarly induced by interleukin-2 (Lin et al., J. Biol. Chem., 1996, 271, 10738-10744). Human STAT5A and STAT5B are both localized to chromosome 17 in the band 17q11.2 and have a very similar genomic organization (Ambrosio et al., Gene, 2002, 285, 311-318; Lin et al., J. Biol. Chem., 1996, 271, 10738-10744). Human STAT5A and STAT5B share 91% identity at the amino acid level (Lin et al., J. Biol. Chem., 1996, 271, 10738-10744).

STAT5A and STAT5B transcripts are ubiquitously expressed in human tissues, including spleen, stomach, brain, skeletal muscle, liver, kidney, lung, placenta, pancreas, heart and small intestine (Ambrosio et al., Gene, 2002, 285, 311-318). STAT5 is activated in response to a variety of cytokines, hormones and growth factors, including prolactin, various interleukins, erythropoietin and granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor. STAT5 has been implicated in transducing signals that affect cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis, particularly in the processes of hematopoiesis and immunoregulation, reproduction and lipid metabolism (Grimley et al., Cytokine Growth Factor Rev., 1999, 10, 131-157).

While STAT5A and STAT5B share a high degree of sequence homology, each STAT5 has distinct biological functions. STAT5A-deficient mice develop normally, but mammary lobuloalveolar outgrowth during pregnancy is reduced, and female mice fail to lactate after parturition due to defects in mammary gland differentiation (Liu et al., Genes Dev., 1997, 11, 179-186). These results demonstrate that STAT5A is essential for adult mammary gland development and lactogenesis. Targeted disruption of the murine STAT5B gene leads to a striking loss of multiple, sexually differentiated responses associated with the sexually dimorphic pattern of pituitary growth hormone secretion. Male STAT5B-deficient mice exhibit body growth rates and male-specific liver gene expression levels that are decreased relative to wild-type female levels, suggesting that STAT5B is necessary for the physiological effects of male growth hormone on body growth rate and liver gene expression. Only a modest decrease in growth rate is seen in STAT5B-deficient females (Udy et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 1997, 94, 7239-7244). The phenotypes of the gene disrupted mice correlate with the patterns of expression, with STAT5A highly abundant in mouse mammary tissue during lactation and STAT5B highly abundant in muscle tissue of virgin and lactating female mice and in male mice (Liu et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 1995, 92, 8831-8835).

Disruption of both STAT5A and STAT5B results in the phenotypes associated with disruption of each individual gene and also reveals that the STAT5 proteins have redundant functions in response to growth hormone and prolactin. Mice deficient in both STAT5A and STAT5B are smaller than their wild-type littermates, and the females are infertile. Peripheral T cells from these mice are unable to proliferate in response to T cell receptor engagement and interleukin-2, suggesting that STAT5 plays a role in T cell regulation (Teglund et al., Cell, 1998, 93, 841-850).

Each STAT5 gene gives rise to both long and short isoforms. These functionally distinct isoforms, which are activated in distinct populations of cells, are generated not by RNA processing but by STAT5-cleaving protease activity, also limited to distinct populations of cells. Interleukin-3 activates full-length STAT5A and STAT5B in mature myeloid cell lines and the c-terminally truncated forms in more immature myeloid cell lines (Azam et al., Immunity, 1997, 6, 691-701). These naturally occurring truncated variants can inhibit full-length STAT5 function in cultured mammalian cells but do not affect cell growth rate (Moriggl et al., Mol. Cell. Biol., 1996, 16, 5691-5700; Wang et al., Mol. Cell. Biol., 1996, 16, 6141-6148). Additionally, an alternatively spliced form of human STAT5B exists, which uses an alternative promoter and 5′ exon within the STAT5B gene. This STAT5B transcript is found only in placenta tissue (Ambrosio et al., Gene, 2002, 285, 311-318). Alternatively spliced forms of rat STAT5A have been isolated from rat mammary gland, and are designated STAT5A1 and STAT5A2 (Kazansky et al., Mol. Endocrinol., 1995, 9, 1598-1609). A STAT5B isoform that lacks the COOH-terminal 40 amino acids has been isolated from rat liver and designated STAT5BA40C (Ripperger et al., J. Biol. Chem., 1995, 270, 29998-30006).

The STAT proteins are not known to contribute directly to cell cycle checkpoint regulation or DNA repair. However, they contribute to tumorigenesis through their involvement in growth factor signaling, apoptosis and angiogenesis. Additionally, because this transcription factor family participates in the immune response, defective STAT activity can compromise immune surveillance and thus promote cancer cell survival. STAT5 is commonly found constitutively activated in several cancers. To date, the most common mechanism for constitutive phosphorylation and activation of STAT proteins is excessive JAK kinase activity (Bromberg, J. Clin. Invest., 2002, 109, 1139-1142).

A role for STAT5 in the process of tumor initiation and progression is demonstrated by the link between constitutive STAT5 activity and cultured cell transformation. STAT5 activation is sufficient for transformation of hematopoietic precursor cells (Spiekermann et al., Exp. Hematol., 2002, 30, 262-271). Both STAT5A and STAT5B are constitutively phosphorylated and are transcriptionally active in K562 leukemia cells (Carlesso et al., J. Exp. Med., 1996, 183, 811-820; de Groot et al., Blood, 1999, 94, 1108-1112; Weber-Nordt et al., Blood, 1996, 88, 809-816). Additionally, increased constitutive activation of STAT5 was detected in transformed human squamous epithelial cells derived from squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck. Targeting of STAT5B, but not STAT5A, with antisense oligonucleotides inhibited the growth of these squamous epithelial cells (Leong et al., Oncogene, 2002, 21, 2846-2853).

Abnormal STAT5 activity is indeed found associated with many cancers, particularly hematopoietic malignancies. Constitutively activated STAT5 is found in cell samples taken from patients with T-cell and B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL), adult T-cell leukemia (ATL), acute myeloid leukemia (AML), chronic myelocytic leukemia (CML) and acute promyelocytic-like leukemia (APL-L) (Arnould et al., Hum. Mol. Genet., 1999, 8, 1741-1749; Carlesso et al., J. Exp. Med., 1996, 183, 811-820; Chai et al., J. Immunol., 1997, 159, 4720-4728; Gouilleux-Gruart et al., Blood, 1996, 87, 1692-1697; Spiekermann et al., Clin. Cancer Res., 2003, 9, 2140-2150; Takemoto et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 1997, 94, 13897-13902; Weber-Nordt et al., Blood, 1996, 88, 809-816). Collectively, these data demonstrate the involvement of activated STAT5 in hematopoietic cancers.

One mechanism by which constitutively activated STAT5 may promote cancer cell survival is through the inhibition of apoptosis. Introduction of a constitutively activated STAT5 protects murine T lymphoma cells against dexamethasone-induced apoptosis (Demoulin et al., J. Biol. Chem., 1999, 274, 25855-25861). Conversely, blocking of tyrosine kinase signaling using a small molecule inhibitor in cells which express BCR/ABL, a constitutively active tyrosine kinase, inhibited cell growth and induced apoptosis (Donato et al., Blood, 2001, 97, 2846-2853; Huang et al., Oncogene, 2002, 21, 8804-8816). Apoptosis was correlated with the inhibition of STAT5 activation. Viral delivery of a dominantly acting STAT5 mutant to CML primary cells, a CML cell line or prostate cancer cells induces cell death, consistent with a role of STAT5 signaling in growth and survival of cancer cells (Ahonen et al., J. Biol. Chem., 2003, ; Huang et al., Oncogene, 2002, 21, 8804-8816).

Inappropriate activation of STAT proteins may also allow cancer cells to survive and proliferate in the absence of cytokines and growth factors. STAT5 activation is often observed in correlation with the presence the BCR/ABL chimeric oncogene that results from a chromosomal translocation. The BCR/ABL fusion is found in both CML and ALL (Coffer et al., Oncogene, 2000, 19, 2511-2522). STAT5 activation in cells derived from CML patients is strictly dependent on BCR/ABL kinase activity and strongly correlates with its ability to confer cytokine independent growth in hematopoietic cells (Carlesso et al., J. Exp. Med., 1996, 183, 811-820; Shuai et al., Oncogene, 1996, 13, 247-254). Constitutively activated STAT5 is also found in several CML-derived cell lines expressing BCR/ABL. Furthermore, BCR/ABL is expressed in peripheral blood cells from patients with AML, and constitutively activated STAT5 was found in one of these AML patients (Chai et al., J. Immunol., 1997, 159, 4720-4728). Both the alpha and beta isoforms of STAT5A and STAT5B are found expressed in cells from AML patients and are proposed to be due to alternative mRNA splicing rather than to proteolytic cleavage (Xia et al., Cancer Res., 1998, 58, 3173-3180). Additionally, STAT5 is a major target of other leukemic fusion proteins with protein tyrosine kinase activity, including the TEL-JAK2 and TEL-ABL fusion proteins, which act to inappropriately activate STAT5 (Spiekermann et al., Exp. Hematol., 2002, 30, 262-271).

A case of acute promyelocytic-like leukemia (APL-L) exhibits a structurally abnormal STAT gene that is the result of a fusion between the retinoic acid receptor alpha (RARA) gene and the STAT5B gene. Whereas STAT5B under normal circumstances is translocated to the nucleus only upon tyrosine kinase activation, the STAT5B/RARA fusion is mislocalized in the nucleus (Arnould et al., Hum. Mol. Genet., 1999, 8, 1741-1749). The fusion protein enhances STAT3 activity, which is a characteristic shared by other APL fusion proteins (Dong and Tweardy, Blood, 2002, 99, 2637-2646).

Phosphorothioate anti sense oligodeoxynucleotides, 24 nucleotides in length, complementary to the start codon of either STAT5A or STAT5B, were used to inhibit STAT5A and STAT5B expression for the purpose of investigating their role in normal hematopoiesis. Downregulation of STAT5A or STAT5B following antisense oligodeoxynucleotide treatment had no effect on the viability, clonogenecity and apoptosis of cord blood hematopoietic cells (Baskiewicz-Masiuk et al., Cell Mol. Biol. Lett., 2003, 8, 317-331).

The U.S. Pat. No. 5,534,409 discloses and claims an isolated DNA which has at least about 90% sequence identity to a nucleotide sequence encoding mammary gland growth factor (MGF), also known as STAT5. Also disclosed are oligonucleotides useful for hybridization for the purpose of isolating cDNA clones encoding MGF (Groner et al., 1996).

The U.S. Pat. No. 5,618,693 claims and discloses an isolated nucleic acid encoding a human STAT5 (hSTAT5). Generally disclosed are nucleic acids for use as hybridization probes, PCR primers and therapeutic nucleic acids, whereby hStat5 nucleic acids are used to modulate, usually reduce, cellular expression or intracellular concentration or availability of active hStat5 and whereby these therapeutic nucleic acids are typically antisense nucleic acids (McKnight et al., 1997).

Disclosed and claimed in the U.S. Pat. No. 6,160,092 is a crystal of the core protein of the STAT protein in dimeric form with an 18-mer duplex DNA that contains a binding site for the STAT dimer, as well as methods of using the structural information in drug discovery and drug development. Also disclosed are nucleic acid molecules encoding STAT5A, including RNA and DNA molecules and hybridizable nucleic acid molecules with minimum length of 12 nucleotides (Chen et al., 2000).

Disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 6,518,021 are nucleic acid molecules encoding a human STAT5A molecule, whereby a nucleic acid molecule is a DNA or RNA sequence or a PCR primer (Thastrup et al., 2003).

The PCT publication WO 02/46466 discloses and claims a method of inhibiting cellular proliferation mediated by a BRCA/STAT complex, comprising contacting a BRCA/STAT-containing cell with an effective amount of a BRCA/STAT complex modulating compound sufficient to modulate the amount or activity of a BRCA/STAT complex in said cell, wherein said BRCA/STAT complex modulating compound is selected from the group consisting of small molecule, polypeptide and nucleic acid. This application discloses that a BRCA/STAT complex modulating compound can be a nucleic acid, such as a DNA or RNA molecule, including antisense nucleic acids, that specifically binds to a BRCA or STAT nucleic acid (Valgeirsdottir, 2002).

The US Pre-grant publication 20030105057 claims and discloses a method wherein the amount of phosphorylated RECEPTOR/PTK-STAT pathway in a cell is altered by introducing into the cell nucleic acid molecules that encode RECEPTOR/PTK-STAT proteins, including STAT5A/B, to effect the increase or decrease of the expression and/or activation of a RECEPTOR or STAT, wherein the STAT can be STAT5A/B. This application further discloses methods whereby the amount of phosphorylated RECEPTOR/PTK-STAT protein is increased or decreased by introducing into the cell an antisense nucleic acid molecule that encodes a tyrosine kinase and/or a RECEPTOR/PTK-STAT protein (Fu et al., 2003).

SUMMARY

Described herein are antisense compounds, especially nucleic acid and nucleic acid-like oligomers, which are targeted to a nucleic acid encoding STAT5, and which modulate the expression of STAT5. Pharmaceutical and other compositions comprising these compounds are also provided. Further provided are methods of screening for modulators of STAT5 and methods of modulating the expression of STAT5 in cells, tissues or animals comprising contacting said cells, tissues or animals with one or more of the compounds or compositions described herein. Methods of treating an animal, particularly a human, suspected of having or being prone to a disease or condition associated with expression of STAT5 are also set forth herein. Such methods comprise administering a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount of one or more of the compounds or compositions to the person in need of treatment. In another embodiment, the antisense compounds disclosed herein optionally exclude ISIS 130826.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A. Overview

The use of standard cytotoxic chemotherapy in the treatment of cancers, in particular leukemias, has reached a plateau; thus, there exists a need for novel therapies designed to such cancers. Antisense technology is an effective means for reducing the expression of specific gene products and is therefore useful in a number of therapeutic, diagnostic, and research applications for the modulation of STAT5 expression.

Described herein are compositions and methods for modulating STAT5 expression (STAT5A and/or STAT5B), including simultaneous modulation of both isoforms, STAT5A and STAT5B. This is accomplished by providing oligonucleotides which specifically hybridize with one or more nucleic acid molecules encoding STAT5A, STAT5B or both STAT5A and STAT5B. As described in more detail in the examples set forth herein, single oligonucleotides may be used to target STAT5A, STAT5B or both STAT5A and STAT5B. The oligonucleotides that target both isoforms bind to regions that similar nucleotide sequence in both isoforms. In one embodiment, the term “similar” indicates at least about 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90% or >95% identity between the conserved regions in both isoforms.

The antisense oligonucleotides targeted to STAT5 are useful in treating various disorders arising from overexpression of STAT5 such as hyperproliferative disorders, including hematopoietic cancers such as T-cell and B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL), adult T-cell leukemia (ATL), acute myeloid leukemia (AML), chronic myelocytic leukemia (CML) and acute promyelocytic-like leukemia (APL-L), lymphomas and solid tumors of the prostate, breast, lung, stomach, intestine, head, neck, pancreas, liver, ovary and spleen.

As used herein, the terms “target nucleic acid” and “nucleic acid molecule encoding STAT5” have been used for convenience to encompass DNA encoding STAT5, RNA (including pre-mRNA and mRNA or portions thereof) transcribed from such DNA, and also cDNA derived from such RNA. The hybridization of a compound with its target nucleic acid is generally referred to as “antisense”. Consequently, the preferred mechanism believed to be included in the practice of some embodiments is referred to herein as “antisense inhibition.” Such antisense inhibition is typically based upon hydrogen bonding-based hybridization of oligonucleotide strands or segments such that at least one strand or segment is cleaved, degraded, or otherwise rendered inoperable. In this regard, it is presently preferred to target specific nucleic acid molecules and their functions for such antisense inhibition.

The functions of DNA to be interfered with can include replication and transcription. Replication and transcription, for example, can be from an endogenous cellular template, a vector, a plasmid construct or otherwise. The functions of RNA to be interfered with can include functions such as translocation of the RNA to a site of protein translation, translocation of the RNA to sites within the cell which are distant from the site of RNA synthesis, translation of protein from the RNA, splicing of the RNA to yield one or more RNA species, and catalytic activity or complex formation involving the RNA which may be engaged in or facilitated by the RNA. One preferred result of such interference with target nucleic acid function is modulation of the expression of STAT5. As used herein, “modulation” and “modulation of expression” mean either an increase (stimulation) or a decrease (inhibition) in the amount or levels of a nucleic acid molecule encoding the gene, e.g., DNA or RNA. Inhibition is often the preferred form of modulation of expression and mRNA is often a preferred target nucleic acid.

As used herein, “hybridization” means the pairing of complementary strands of oligomeric compounds. In the embodiments described herein, the preferred mechanism of pairing involves hydrogen bonding, which may be Watson-Crick, Hoogsteen or reversed Hoogsteen hydrogen bonding, between complementary nucleoside or nucleotide bases (nucleobases) of the strands of oligomeric compounds. For example, adenine and thymine are complementary nucleobases which pair through the formation of hydrogen bonds. Hybridization can occur under varying circumstances.

An antisense compound is specifically hybridizable when binding of the compound to the target nucleic acid interferes with the normal function of the target nucleic acid to cause a loss of activity, and there is a sufficient degree of complementarity to avoid non-specific binding of the antisense compound to non-target nucleic acid sequences under conditions in which specific binding is desired, i.e., under physiological conditions in the case of in vivo assays or therapeutic treatment, and under conditions in which assays are performed in the case of in vitro assays.

As used herein, the phrase “stringent hybridization conditions” or “stringent conditions” refers to conditions under which a compound will hybridize to its target sequence, but to a minimal number of other sequences. Stringent conditions are sequence-dependent and will be different in different circumstances and as described herein. “Stringent conditions” under which oligomeric compounds hybridize to a target sequence are determined by the nature and composition of the oligomeric compounds and the assays in which they are being investigated.

“Complementary,” as used herein, refers to the capacity for precise pairing between two nucleobases of an oligomeric compound. For example, if a nucleobase at a certain position of an oligonucleotide (an oligomeric compound), is capable of hydrogen bonding with a nucleobase at a certain position of a target nucleic acid, said target nucleic acid being a DNA, RNA, or oligonucleotide molecule, then the position of hydrogen bonding between the oligonucleotide and the target nucleic acid is considered to be a complementary position. The oligonucleotide and the further DNA, RNA, or oligonucleotide molecule are complementary to each other when a sufficient number of complementary positions in each molecule are occupied by nucleobases which can hydrogen bond with each other. Thus, “specifically hybridizable” and “complementary” are terms which are used to indicate a sufficient degree of precise pairing or complementarity over a sufficient number of nucleobases such that stable and specific binding occurs between the oligonucleotide and a target nucleic acid.

It is understood in the art that the sequence of an antisense compound need not be 100% complementary to that of its target nucleic acid to be specifically hybridizable. Moreover, an oligonucleotide may hybridize over one or more segments such that intervening or adjacent segments are not involved in the hybridization event (e.g., a loop structure or hairpin structure). It is preferred that the antisense compounds described herein comprise at least 70%, or at least 75%, or at least 80%, or at least 85% sequence complementarity to a target region within the target nucleic acid, more preferably that they comprise at least 90% sequence complementarity and even more preferably comprise at least 95% or at least 99% sequence complementarity to the target region within the target nucleic acid sequence to which they are targeted. For example, an antisense compound in which 18 of 20 nucleobases of the antisense compound are complementary to a target region, and would therefore specifically hybridize, would represent 90 percent complementarity. In this example, the remaining noncomplementary nucleobases may be clustered or interspersed with complementary nucleobases and need not be contiguous to each other or to complementary nucleobases. As such, an antisense compound which is 18 nucleobases in length having 4 (four) noncomplementary nucleobases which are flanked by two regions of complete complementarity with the target nucleic acid would have 77.8% overall complementarity with the target nucleic acid and would thus fall within the scope of the described embodiments. Percent complementarity of an antisense compound with a region of a target nucleic acid can be determined routinely using BLAST programs (basic local alignment search tools) and PowerBLAST programs known in the art (Altschul et al., J. Mol. Biol., 1990, 215, 403-410; Zhang and Madden, Genome Res., 1997, 7, 649-656).

Percent homology, sequence identity or complementarity, can be determined by, for example, the Gap program (Wisconsin Sequence Analysis Package, Version 8 for Unix, Genetics Computer Group, University Research Park, Madison Wis.), using default settings, which uses the algorithm of Smith and Waterman (Adv. Appl. Math., 1981, 2, 482-489). In some preferred embodiments, homology, sequence identity or complementarity, between the oligomeric and target is between about 50% to about 60%. In some embodiments, homology, sequence identity or complementarity, is between about 60% to about 70%. In preferred embodiments, homology, sequence identity or complementarity, is between about 70% and about 80%. In more preferred embodiments, homology, sequence identity or complementarity, is between about 80% and about 90%. In some preferred embodiments, homology, sequence identity or complementarity, is about 90%, about 92%, about 94%, about 95%, about 96%, about 97%, about 98%, about 99% or about 100%.

B. Compounds

As used herein, antisense compounds include antisense oligomeric compounds, antisense oligonucleotides, ribozymes, external guide sequence (EGS) oligonucleotides, alternate splicers, primers, probes, and other oligomeric compounds which hybridize to at least a portion of the target nucleic acid. As such, these compounds may be introduced in the form of single-stranded, double-stranded, circular or hairpin oligomeric compounds and may contain structural elements such as internal or terminal bulges or loops. Once introduced to a system, the compounds may elicit the action of one or more enzymes or structural proteins to effect modification of the target nucleic acid.

One non-limiting example of such an enzyme is RNAse H, a cellular endonuclease which cleaves the RNA strand of an RNA:DNA duplex. It is known in the art that single-stranded antisense compounds which are “DNA-like” elicit RNAse H. Activation of RNase H, therefore, results in cleavage of the RNA target, thereby greatly enhancing the efficiency of oligonucleotide-mediated inhibition of gene expression. Similar roles have been postulated for other ribonucleases such as those in the RNase III and ribonuclease L family of enzymes.

While the preferred form of antisense compound is a single-stranded antisense oligonucleotide, in many species the introduction of double-stranded structures, such as double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) molecules, has been shown to induce potent and specific antisense-mediated reduction of the function of a gene or its associated gene products. This phenomenon occurs in both plants and animals and is believed to have an evolutionary connection to viral defense and transposon silencing.

The first evidence that dsRNA could lead to gene silencing in animals came in 1995 from work in the nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans (Guo and Kempheus, Cell, 1995, 81, 611-620).

Montgomery et al. have shown that the primary interference effects of dsRNA are posttranscriptional (Montgomery et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 1998, 95, 15502-15507). The posttranscriptional antisense mechanism defined in Caenorhabditis elegans resulting from exposure to double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) has since been designated RNA interference (RNAi). This term has been generalized to mean antisense-mediated gene silencing involving the introduction of dsRNA leading to the sequence-specific reduction of endogenous targeted mRNA levels (Fire et al., Nature, 1998, 391, 806-811). Recently, it has been shown that it is, in fact, the single-stranded RNA oligomers of antisense polarity of the dsRNAs which are the potent inducers of RNAi (Tijsterman et al., Science, 2002, 295, 694-697).

The antisense compounds also include modified compounds in which a different base is present at one or more of the nucleotide positions in the compound. For example, if the first nucleotide is an adenosine, modified compounds may be produced which contain thymidine, guanosine or cytidine at this position. This may be done at any of the positions of the antisense compound. These compounds are then tested using the methods described herein to determine their ability to inhibit expression of STAT5 mRNA.

As used herein, the term “oligomeric compound” refers to a polymer or oligomer comprising a plurality of monomeric units. As used herein, the term “oligonucleotide” refers to an oligomer or polymer of ribonucleic acid (RNA) or deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) or mimetics, chimeras, analogs and homologs thereof. This term includes oligonucleotides composed of naturally occurring nucleobases, sugars and covalent internucleoside (backbone) linkages as well as oligonucleotides having non-naturally occurring portions which function similarly. Such modified or substituted oligonucleotides are often preferred over native forms because of desirable properties such as, for example, enhanced cellular uptake, enhanced affinity for a target nucleic acid and increased stability in the presence of nucleases.

While oligonucleotides are a preferred form of antisense compound, other families of antisense compounds are contemplated as well, including but not limited to oligonucleotide analogs and mimetics such as those described herein.

The antisense compounds preferably comprise from about 8 to about 80 nucleobases (i.e. from about 8 to about 80 linked nucleosides. Compounds of 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, or 80 nucleobases in length are also contemplated.

In one preferred embodiment, the antisense compounds are 12 to 50 nucleobases in length. One having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that this embodies compounds of 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, or 50 nucleobases in length.

In another preferred embodiment, the antisense compounds are 15 to 30 nucleobases in length. One having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that this embodies compounds of 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, or 30 nucleobases in length.

Particularly preferred compounds are oligonucleotides from about 12 to about 50 nucleobases, even more preferably those comprising from about 15 to about 30 nucleobases.

Antisense compounds 8-80 nucleobases in length comprising a stretch of at least eight (8) consecutive nucleobases selected from within the illustrative antisense compounds are considered to be suitable antisense compounds as well.

Exemplary preferred antisense compounds include oligonucleotide sequences that comprise at least the 8 consecutive nucleobases from the 5′-terminus of one of the illustrative preferred antisense compounds (the remaining nucleobases being a consecutive stretch of the same oligonucleotide beginning immediately upstream of the 5′-terminus of the antisense compound which is specifically hybridizable to the target nucleic acid and continuing until the oligonucleotide contains about 8 to about 80 nucleobases). Similarly preferred antisense compounds are represented by oligonucleotide sequences that comprise at least the 8 consecutive nucleobases from the 3′-terminus of one of the illustrative preferred antisense compounds (the remaining nucleobases being a consecutive stretch of the same oligonucleotide beginning immediately downstream of the 3′-terminus of the antisense compound which is specifically hybridizable to the target nucleic acid and continuing until the oligonucleotide contains about 8 to about 80 nucleobases). It is also understood that preferred antisense compounds may be represented by oligonucleotide sequences that comprise at least 8 consecutive nucleobases from an internal portion of the sequence of an illustrative preferred antisense compound, and may extend in either or both directions until the oligonucleotide contains about 8 to about 80 nucleobases.

One having skill in the art armed with the preferred antisense compounds illustrated herein will be able, without undue experimentation, to identify further preferred antisense compounds.

C. Oligonucleotide Targets

“Targeting” an antisense compound to a particular nucleic acid molecule can be a multistep process. The process usually begins with the identification of a target nucleic acid whose function is to be modulated. This target nucleic acid may be, for example, a cellular gene (or mRNA transcribed from the gene) whose expression is associated with a particular disorder or disease state, or a nucleic acid molecule from an infectious agent. As described herein, the target nucleic acid encodes STAT5.

The targeting process usually also includes determination of at least one target region, segment, or site within the target nucleic acid for the antisense interaction to occur such that the desired effect, e.g., modulation of expression, will result. As used herein, the term “region” is defined as a portion of the target nucleic acid having at least one identifiable structure, function, or characteristic. Within regions of target nucleic acids are segments. “Segments” are defined as smaller or sub-portions of regions within a target nucleic acid. “Sites,” as used herein, are defined as positions within a target nucleic acid.

Since, as is known in the art, the translation initiation codon is typically 5′-AUG (in transcribed mRNA molecules; 5′-ATG in the corresponding DNA molecule), the translation initiation codon is also referred to as the “AUG codon,” the “start codon” or the “AUG start codon”. A minority of genes have a translation initiation codon having the RNA sequence 5′-GUG, 5′-UUG or 5′-CUG, and 5′-AUA, 5′-ACG and 5′-CUG have been shown to function in vivo. Thus, the terms “translation initiation codon” and “start codon” can encompass many codon sequences, even though the initiator amino acid in each instance is typically methionine (in eukaryotes) or formylmethionine (in prokaryotes). It is also known in the art that eukaryotic and prokaryotic genes may have two or more alternative start codons, any one of which may be preferentially utilized for translation initiation in a particular cell type or tissue, or under a particular set of conditions. As used herein, “start codon” and “translation initiation codon” refer to the codon or codons that are used in vivo to initiate translation of an mRNA transcribed from a gene encoding STAT5, regardless of the sequence(s) of such codons. It is also known in the art that a translation termination codon (or “stop codon”) of a gene may have one of three sequences, i.e., 5′-UAA, 5′-UAG and 5′-UGA (the corresponding DNA sequences are 5′-TAA, 5′-TAG and 5′-TGA, respectively).

The terms “start codon region” and “translation initiation codon region” refer to a portion of such an mRNA or gene that encompasses from about 25 to about 50 contiguous nucleotides in either direction (i.e., 5′ or 3′) from a translation initiation codon. Similarly, the terms “stop codon region” and “translation termination codon region” refer to a portion of such an mRNA or gene that encompasses from about 25 to about 50 contiguous nucleotides in either direction (i.e., 5′ or 3′) from a translation termination codon. Consequently, the “start codon region” (or “translation initiation codon region”) and the “stop codon region” (or “translation termination codon region”) are all regions which may be targeted effectively with the antisense compounds described herein.

The open reading frame (ORF) or “coding region,” which is known in the art to refer to the region between the translation initiation codon and the translation termination codon, is also a region which may be targeted effectively. A preferred region is the intragenic region encompassing the translation initiation or termination codon of the open reading frame (ORF) of a gene.

Other target regions include the 5′ untranslated region (5′UTR), known in the art to refer to the portion of an mRNA in the 5′ direction from the translation initiation codon, and thus including nucleotides between the 5′ cap site and the translation initiation codon of an mRNA (or corresponding nucleotides on the gene), and the 3′ untranslated region (3′UTR), known in the art to refer to the portion of an mRNA in the 3′ direction from the translation termination codon, and thus including nucleotides between the translation termination codon and 3′ end of an mRNA (or corresponding nucleotides on the gene). The 5′ cap site of an mRNA comprises an N7-methylated guanosine residue joined to the 5′-most residue of the mRNA via a 5′-5′ triphosphate linkage. The 5′ cap region of an mRNA is considered to include the 5′ cap structure itself as well as the first 50 nucleotides adjacent to the cap site. It is also preferred to target the 5′ cap region.

Although some eukaryotic mRNA transcripts are directly translated, many contain one or more regions, known as “introns,” which are excised from a transcript before it is translated. The remaining (and therefore translated) regions are known as “exons” and are spliced together to form a continuous mRNA sequence. Targeting splice sites, i.e., intron-exon junctions or exon-intron junctions, may also be particularly useful in situations where aberrant splicing is implicated in disease, or where an overproduction of a particular splice product is implicated in disease. Aberrant fusion junctions due to rearrangements or deletions are also preferred target sites. mRNA transcripts produced via the process of splicing of two (or more) mRNAs from different gene sources are known as “fusion transcripts”. It is also known that introns can be effectively targeted using antisense compounds targeted to, for example, DNA or pre-mRNA.

It is also known in the art that alternative RNA transcripts can be produced from the same genomic region of DNA. These alternative transcripts are generally known as “variants”. More specifically, “pre-mRNA variants” are transcripts produced from the same genomic DNA that differ from other transcripts produced from the same genomic DNA in either their start or stop position and contain both intronic and exonic sequence.

Upon excision of one or more exon or intron regions, or portions thereof during splicing, pre-mRNA variants produce smaller “mRNA variants”. Consequently, mRNA variants are processed pre-mRNA variants and each unique pre-mRNA variant must always produce a unique mRNA variant as a result of splicing. These mRNA variants are also known as “alternative splice variants”. If no splicing of the pre-mRNA variant occurs then the pre-mRNA variant is identical to the mRNA variant.

It is also known in the art that variants can be produced through the use of alternative signals to start or stop transcription and that pre-mRNAs and mRNAs can possess more that one start codon or stop codon. Variants that originate from a pre-mRNA or mRNA that use alternative start codons are known as “alternative start variants” of that pre-mRNA or mRNA. Those transcripts that use an alternative stop codon are known as “alternative stop variants” of that pre-mRNA or mRNA. One specific type of alternative stop variant is the “polyA variant” in which the multiple transcripts produced result from the alternative selection of one of the “polyA stop signals” by the transcription machinery, thereby producing transcripts that terminate at unique polyA sites. The types of variants described herein are also preferred target nucleic acids.

The locations on the target nucleic acid to which the preferred antisense compounds hybridize are hereinbelow referred to as “preferred target segments.” As used herein the term “preferred target segment” is defined as at least an 8-nucleobase portion of a target region to which an active antisense compound is targeted. While not wishing to be bound by theory, it is presently believed that these target segments represent portions of the target nucleic acid which are accessible for hybridization.

While the specific sequences of certain preferred target segments are set forth herein, one of skill in the art will recognize that these serve only to illustrate and describe particular embodiments. Additional preferred target segments may be identified by one having ordinary skill.

Target segments 8-80 nucleobases in length comprising a stretch of at least eight (8) consecutive nucleobases selected from within the illustrative preferred target segments are considered to be suitable for targeting as well.

Target segments can include DNA or RNA sequences that comprise at least the 8 consecutive nucleobases from the 5′-terminus of one of the illustrative preferred target segments (the remaining nucleobases being a consecutive stretch of the same DNA or RNA beginning immediately upstream of the 5′-terminus of the target segment and continuing until the DNA or RNA contains about 8 to about 80 nucleobases). Similarly preferred target segments are represented by DNA or RNA sequences that comprise at least the 8 consecutive nucleobases from the 3′-terminus of one of the illustrative preferred target segments (the remaining nucleobases being a consecutive stretch of the same DNA or RNA beginning immediately downstream of the 3′-terminus of the target segment and continuing until the DNA or RNA contains about 8 to about 80 nucleobases). It is also understood that preferred antisense target segments may be represented by DNA or RNA sequences that comprise at least 8 consecutive nucleobases from an internal portion of the sequence of an illustrative preferred target segment, and may extend in either or both directions until the oligonucleotide contains about 8 to about 80 nucleobases. One having skill in the art armed with the preferred target segments illustrated herein will be able, without undue experimentation, to identify further preferred target segments.

Once one or more target regions, segments or sites have been identified, antisense compounds are chosen which are sufficiently complementary to the target, i.e., hybridize sufficiently well and with sufficient specificity, to give the desired effect.

The oligomeric antisense compounds may also be targeted to regions of the STAT5A target nucleobase sequence (e.g., such as those disclosed in Example 13) comprising nucleobases 1-80, 81-160, 161-240, 241-320, 321-400, 401-480, 481-560, 561-640, 641-720, 721-800, 801-880, 881-960, 961-1040, 1041-1120, 1121-1200, 1201-1280, 1281-1360, 1361-1440, 1441-1520, 1521-1600, 1601-1680, 1681-1760, 1761-1840, 1841-1920, 1921-2000, 2001-2080, 2081-2160, 2161-2240, 2241-2320, 2321-2400, 2401-2480, 2481-2560, 2561-2640, 2641-2720, 2721-2800, 2801-2880, 2881-2960, 2961-3040, 3041-3120, 3121-3200, 3201-3280, 3281-3360, 3361-3440, 3441-3520, 3521-3600, 3601-3680, 3681-3760, 3761-3840, 3841-3920, 3921-4000, 4001-4080, 4081-4160, 4161-4240, 4241-4298, or any combination thereof. The oligomeric antisense compounds may further be targeted to regions of the STAT5B target nucleobase sequence (e.g., such as those disclosed in Example 15) comprising nucleobases 1-80, 81-160, 161-240, 241-320, 321-400, 401-480, 481-560, 561-640, 641-720, 721-800, 801-880, 881-960, 961-1040, 1041-1120, 1121-1200, 1201-1280, 1281-1360, 1361-1440, 1441-1520, 1521-1600, 1601-1680, 1681-1760, 1761-1840, 1841-1920, 1921-2000, 2001-2080, 2081-2160, 2161-2240, 2241-2320, 2321-2400, 2401-2480, 2481-2560, 2561-2640, 2641-2716, or any combination thereof.

D. Screening and Target Validation

In a further embodiment, the “preferred target segments” identified herein may be employed in a screen for additional compounds that modulate the expression of STAT5. “Modulators” are those compounds that decrease or increase the expression of a nucleic acid molecule encoding STAT5 and which comprise at least an 8-nucleobase portion which is complementary to a preferred target segment. The screening method comprises the steps of contacting a preferred target segment of a nucleic acid molecule encoding STAT5 with one or more candidate modulators, and selecting for one or more candidate modulators which decrease or increase the expression of a nucleic acid molecule encoding STAT5. Once it is shown that the candidate modulator or modulators are capable of modulating (e.g. either decreasing or increasing) the expression of a nucleic acid molecule encoding STAT5, the modulator may then be employed in further investigative studies of the function of STAT5, or for use as a research, diagnostic, or therapeutic agent.

The preferred target segments may be also be combined with their respective complementary antisense compounds to form stabilized double-stranded (duplexed) oligonucleotides.

Such double stranded oligonucleotide moieties have been shown in the art to modulate target expression and regulate translation as well as RNA processing via an antisense mechanism. Moreover, the double-stranded moieties may be subject to chemical modifications (Fire et al., Nature, 1998, 391, 806-811; Timmons and Fire, Nature 1998, 395, 854; Timmons et al., Gene, 2001, 263, 103-112; Tabara et al., Science, 1998, 282,430-431; Montgomery et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 1998, 95, 15502-15507; Tuschl et al., Genes Dev., 1999,13, 3191-3197; Elbashir et al., Nature, 2001, 411, 494-498; Elbashir et al., Genes Dev. 2001, 15, 188-200). For example, such double-stranded moieties have been shown to inhibit the target by the classical hybridization of antisense strand of the duplex to the target, thereby triggering enzymatic degradation of the target (Tijsterman et al., Science, 2002, 295, 694-697).

The antisense compounds can also be applied in the areas of drug discovery and target validation. The use of the compounds and preferred target segments identified herein in drug discovery efforts to elucidate relationships that exist between STAT5 and a disease state, phenotype, or condition is also contemplated. These methods include detecting or modulating STAT5 comprising contacting a sample, tissue, cell, or organism with the compounds described herein, measuring the nucleic acid or protein level of STAT5 and/or a related phenotypic or chemical endpoint at some time after treatment, and optionally comparing the measured value to a non-treated sample or sample treated with a further compound. These methods can also be performed in parallel or in combination with other experiments to determine the function of unknown genes for the process of target validation or to determine the validity of a particular gene product as a target for treatment or prevention of a particular disease, condition, or phenotype.

E. Kits, Research Reagents, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics

The antisense compounds can be utilized for diagnostics, therapeutics, prophylaxis and as research reagents and kits. Furthermore, antisense oligonucleotides, which are able to inhibit gene expression with exquisite specificity, are often used by those of ordinary skill to elucidate the function of particular genes or to distinguish between functions of various members of a biological pathway.

For use in kits and diagnostics, the compounds described herein, either alone or in combination with other compounds or therapeutics, can be used as tools in differential and/or combinatorial analyses to elucidate expression patterns of a portion or the entire complement of genes expressed within cells and tissues.

As one nonlimiting example, expression patterns within cells or tissues treated with one or more antisense compounds are compared to control cells or tissues not treated with antisense compounds and the patterns produced are analyzed for differential levels of gene expression as they pertain, for example, to disease association, signaling pathway, cellular localization, expression level, size, structure or function of the genes examined. These analyses can be performed on stimulated or unstimulated cells and in the presence or absence of other compounds which affect expression patterns.

Examples of methods of gene expression analysis known in the art include DNA arrays or microarrays (Brazma and Vilo, FEBS Lett., 2000, 480, 17-24; Celis, et al., FEBS Lett., 2000, 480, 2-16), SAGE (serial analysis of gene expression)(Madden, et al., Drug Discov. Today, 2000, 5, 415-425), READS (restriction enzyme amplification of digested cDNAs) (Prashar and Weissman, Methods Enzymol., 1999, 303, 258-72), TOGA (total gene expression analysis) (Sutcliffe, et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 2000, 97, 1976-81), protein arrays and proteomics (Celis, et al., FEBS Lett., 2000, 480, 2-16; Jungblut, et al., Electrophoresis, 1999, 20, 2100-10), expressed sequence tag (EST) sequencing (Celis, et al., FEBS Lett., 2000, 480, 2-16; Larsson, et al., J. Biotechnol., 2000, 80, 143-57), subtractive RNA fingerprinting (SuRF) (Fuchs, et al, Anal. Biochem., 2000, 286, 91-98; Larson, et al., Cytometry, 2000, 41, 203-208), subtractive cloning, differential display (DD) (Jurecic and Belmont, Curr. Opin. Microbiol., 2000, 3, 316-21), comparative genomic hybridization (Carulli, et al., J. Cell Biochem. Suppl., 1998, 31, 286-96), FISH (fluorescent in situ hybridization) techniques (Going and Gusterson, Eur. J. Cancer, 1999, 35, 1895-904) and mass spectrometry methods (To, Comb. Chem. High Throughput Screen, 2000, 3, 235-41).

The antisense compounds described herein are useful for research and diagnostics, because these compounds hybridize to nucleic acids encoding STAT5. For example, oligonucleotides that are shown to hybridize with such efficiency and under such conditions as disclosed herein as to be effective STAT5 inhibitors will also be effective primers or probes under conditions favoring gene amplification or detection, respectively. These primers and probes are useful in methods requiring the specific detection of nucleic acid molecules encoding STAT5 and in the amplification of said nucleic acid molecules for detection or for use in further studies of STAT5. Hybridization of the antisense oligonucleotides, particularly the primers and probes described herein, with a nucleic acid encoding STAT5 can be detected by means known in the art. Such means may include conjugation of an enzyme to the oligonucleotide, radiolabelling of the oligonucleotide or any other suitable detection means. Kits using such detection means for detecting the level of STAT5 in a sample may also be prepared.

The specificity and sensitivity of antisense is also harnessed by those of skill in the art for therapeutic uses. Antisense compounds have been employed as therapeutic moieties in the treatment of disease states in animals, including humans. Antisense oligonucleotide drugs, including ribozymes, have been safely and effectively administered to humans and numerous clinical trials are presently underway. It is thus established that antisense compounds can be useful therapeutic modalities that can be configured to be useful in treatment regimes for the treatment of cells, tissues and animals, especially humans.

For therapeutics, an animal, preferably a human, suspected of having a disease or disorder which can be treated by modulating the expression of STAT5 is treated by administering antisense compounds described herein. For example, in one non-limiting embodiment, the methods comprise the step of administering to the animal in need of treatment, a therapeutically effective amount of a STAT5 inhibitor. The STAT5 inhibitors effectively inhibit the activity of the STAT5 protein or inhibit the expression of the STAT5 protein. In one embodiment, the activity or expression of STAT5 in an animal is inhibited by about 10%. Preferably, the activity or expression of STAT5 in an animal is inhibited by about 30%. More preferably, the activity or expression of STAT5 in an animal is inhibited by 50% or more. Thus, the oligomeric antisense compounds modulate expression of STAT5 mRNA by at least 10%, by at least 20%, by at least 25%, by at least 30%, by at least 40%, by at least 50%, by at least 60%, by at least 70%, by at least 75%, by at least 80%, by at least 85%, by at least 90%, by at least 95%, by at least 98%, by at least 99%, or by 100%.

For example, the reduction of the expression of STAT5 may be measured in serum, adipose tissue, liver or any other body fluid, tissue or organ of the animal. Preferably, the cells contained within said fluids, tissues or organs being analyzed contain a nucleic acid molecule encoding STAT5 protein and/or the STAT5 protein itself.

The antisense compounds are utilized in pharmaceutical compositions by adding an effective amount of a compound to a suitable pharmaceutically acceptable diluent or carrier. The compounds and methods described herein are also useful prophylactically.

F. Modifications

As is known in the art, a nucleoside is a base-sugar combination. The base portion of the nucleoside is normally a heterocyclic base sometimes referred to as a “nucleobase” or simply a “base”. The two most common classes of such heterocyclic bases are the purines and the pyrimidines. Nucleotides are nucleosides that further include a phosphate group covalently linked to the sugar portion of the nucleoside. For those nucleosides that include a pentofuranosyl sugar, the phosphate group can be linked to either the 2′, 3′ or 5′ hydroxyl moiety of the sugar. In forming oligonucleotides, the phosphate groups covalently link adjacent nucleosides to one another to form a linear polymeric compound. In turn, the respective ends of this linear polymeric compound can be further joined to form a circular compound, however, linear compounds are generally preferred. In addition, linear compounds may have internal nucleobase complementarity and may therefore fold in a manner as to produce a fully or partially double-stranded compound. Within oligonucleotides, the phosphate groups are commonly referred to as forming the internucleoside backbone of the oligonucleotide. The normal linkage or backbone of RNA and DNA is a 3′ to 5′ phosphodiester linkage.

Modified Internucleoside Linkages (Backbones)

Specific examples of preferred antisense compounds include oligonucleotides containing modified backbones or non-natural internucleoside linkages. As defined in this specification, oligonucleotides having modified backbones include those that retain a phosphorus atom in the backbone and those that do not have a phosphorus atom in the backbone. For the purposes of this specification, and as sometimes referenced in the art, modified oligonucleotides that do not have a phosphorus atom in their internucleoside backbone can also be considered to be oligonucleosides.

Preferred modified oligonucleotide backbones containing a phosphorus atom therein include, for example, phosphorothioates, chiral phosphorothioates, phosphorodithioates, phosphotriesters, aminoalkylphosphotriaminoalkylphosphotriesters, methyl and other alkyl phosphonates including 3′-alkylene phosphonates, 5′-alkylene phosphonates and chiral phosphonates, phosphinates, phosphoramidates including 3′-amino phosphoramidate and aminoalkylphosphoramidates, thionophosphoramidates, thionoalkylphosphonates, thionoalkylphosphotriesters, selenophosphates and boranophosphates having normal 3′-5′ linkages, 2′-5′ linked analogs of these, and those having inverted polarity wherein one or more internucleotide linkages is a 3′ to 3′, 5′ to 5′ or 2′ to 2′ linkage. Preferred oligonucleotides having inverted polarity comprise a single 3′ to 3′ linkage at the 3′-most internucleotide linkage i.e. a single inverted nucleoside residue which may be abasic (the nucleobase is missing or has a hydroxyl group in place thereof). Various salts, mixed salts and free acid forms are also included.

Representative United States patents that teach the preparation of the above phosphorus-containing linkages include, but are not limited to, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,687,808; 4,469,863; 4,476,301; 5,023,243; 5,177,196; 5,188,897; 5,264,423; 5,276,019; 5,278,302; 5,286,717; 5,321,131; 5,399,676; 5,405,939; 5,453,496; 5,455,233; 5,466,677; 5,476,925; 5,519,126; 5,536,821; 5,541,306; 5,550,111; 5,563,253; 5,571,799; 5,587,361; 5,194,599; 5,565,555; 5,527,899; 5,721,218; 5,672,697 and 5,625,050, certain of which are commonly owned with this application, and each of which is herein incorporated by reference.

Preferred modified oligonucleotide backbones that do not include a phosphorus atom therein have backbones that are formed by short chain alkyl or cycloalkyl internucleoside linkages, mixed heteroatom and alkyl or cycloalkyl internucleoside linkages, or one or more short chain heteroatomic or heterocyclic internucleoside linkages. These include those having morpholino linkages (formed in part from the sugar portion of a nucleoside); siloxane backbones; sulfide, sulfoxide and sulfone backbones; formacetyl and thioformacetyl backbones; methylene formacetyl and thioformacetyl backbones; riboacetyl backbones; alkene containing backbones; sulfamate backbones; methyleneimino and methylenehydrazino backbones; sulfonate and sulfonamide backbones; amide backbones; and others having mixed N, O, S and CH₂ component parts.

Representative United States patents that teach the preparation of the above oligonucleosides include, but are not limited to, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,034,506; 5,166,315; 5,185,444; 5,214,134; 5,216,141; 5,235,033; 5,264,562; 5,264,564; 5,405,938; 5,434,257; 5,466,677; 5,470,967; 5,489,677; 5,541,307; 5,561,225; 5,596,086; 5,602,240; 5,610,289; 5,602,240; 5,608,046; 5,610,289; 5,618,704; 5,623,070; 5,663,312; 5,633,360; 5,677,437; 5,792,608; 5,646,269 and 5,677,439, certain of which are commonly owned with this application, and each of which is herein incorporated by reference.

Modified Sugar and Internucleoside Linkages-Mimetics

In other preferred antisense compounds, e.g., oligonucleotide mimetics, both the sugar and the internucleoside linkage (i.e. the backbone), of the nucleotide units are replaced with novel groups. The nucleobase units are maintained for hybridization with an appropriate target nucleic acid. One such compound, an oligonucleotide mimetic that has been shown to have excellent hybridization properties, is referred to as a peptide nucleic acid (PNA). In PNA compounds, the sugar-backbone of an oligonucleotide is replaced with an amide containing backbone, in particular an aminoethylglycine backbone. The nucleobases are retained and are bound directly or indirectly to aza nitrogen atoms of the amide portion of the backbone. Representative United States patents that teach the preparation of PNA compounds include, but are not limited to, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,539,082; 5,714,331; and 5,719,262, each of which is herein incorporated by reference. Further teaching of PNA compounds can be found in Nielsen et al., Science, 1991, 254, 1497-1500.

Some embodiments are oligonucleotides with phosphorothioate backbones and oligonucleosides with heteroatom backbones, and in particular —CH₂—NH—O—CH₂—, —CH₂—N(CH₃)—O—CH₂— [known as a methylene (methylimino) or MMI backbone], —CH₂—O—N(CH₃)—CH₂—, —CH₂—N(CH₃)—N(CH₃)—CH₂— and —O—N(CH₃)—CH₂—CH₂— [wherein the native phosphodiester backbone is represented as —O—P—O—CH₂—] of the above referenced U.S. Pat. No. 5,489,677, and the amide backbones of the above referenced U.S. Pat. No. 5,602,240. Also preferred are oligonucleotides having morpholino backbone structures of the above-referenced U.S. Pat. No. 5,034,506.

Modified Sugars

Modified antisense compounds may also contain one or more substituted sugar moieties. Preferred are antisense compounds, preferably antisense oligonucleotides, comprising one of the following at the 2′ position: OH; F; O—, S—, or N-alkyl; O—, S—, or N-alkenyl; O—, S— or N-alkynyl; or O-alkyl-O-alkyl, wherein the alkyl, alkenyl and alkynyl may be substituted or unsubstituted C₁ to C₁₀ alkyl or C₂ to C₁₀ alkenyl and alkynyl. Particularly preferred are O[(CH₂)_(n)O]_(m)CH₃, O(CH₂)_(n)OCH₃, O(CH₂)_(n)NH₂, O(CH₂)_(n)CH₃, O(CH₂)_(n)ONH₂, and O(CH₂)_(n)ON[(CH₂)_(n)CH₃]₂, where n and m are from 1 to about 10. Other preferred oligonucleotides comprise one of the following at the 2′ position: C₁ to C₁₀ lower alkyl, substituted lower alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkaryl, aralkyl, O-alkaryl or O-aralkyl, SH, SCH₃, OCN, Cl, Br, CN, CF₃, OCF₃, SOCH₃, SO₂CH₃, ONO₂, NO₂, N₃, NH₂, heterocycloalkyl, heterocycloalkaryl, aminoalkylamino, poly-alkylamino, substituted silyl, an RNA cleaving group, a reporter group, an intercalator, a group for improving the pharmacokinetic properties of an oligonucleotide, or a group for improving the pharmacodynamic properties of an oligonucleotide, and other substituents having similar properties. A preferred modification includes 2′-methoxyethoxy (2′-O—CH₂CH₂OCH₃, also known as 2′-O-(2-methoxyethyl) or 2′-MOE) (Martin et al, Helv. Chim. Acta, 1995, 78, 486-504) i.e., an alkoxyalkoxy group. A further preferred modification includes 2′- dimethylaminooxyethoxy, i.e., a O(CH₂)₂ON(CH₃)₂ group, also known as 2′-DMAOE, as described in examples hereinbelow, and 2′-dimethylaminoethoxyethoxy (also known in the art as 2′-O-dimethyl-amino-ethoxy-ethyl or 2′-DMAEOE), i.e., 2′-O—CH₂—O—CH₂—N(CH₃)₂, also described in examples hereinbelow.

Other preferred modifications include 2′-methoxy (2′-O—CH₃), 2′-aminopropoxy (2′-OCH₂CH₂CH₂NH₂), 2′-allyl (2′-CH₂—CH═CH₂), 2′-O-allyl (2′-O—CH₂—CH═CH₂) and 2′-fluoro (2′-F). The 2′-modification may be in the arabino (up) position or ribo (down) position. A preferred 2′-arabino modification is 2′-F. Similar modifications may also be made at other positions on the oligonucleotide, particularly the 3′ position of the sugar on the 3′ terminal nucleotide or in 2′-5′ linked oligonucleotides and the 5′ position of 5′ terminal nucleotide. Antisense compounds may also have sugar mimetics such as cyclobutyl moieties in place of the pentofuranosyl sugar. Representative United States patents that teach the preparation of such modified sugar structures include, but are not limited to, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,981,957; 5,118,800; 5,319,080; 5,359,044; 5,393,878; 5,446,137; 5,466,786; 5,514,785; 5,519,134; 5,567,811; 5,576,427; 5,591,722; 5,597,909; 5,610,300; 5,627,053; 5,639,873; 5,646,265; 5,658,873; 5,670,633; 5,792,747; and 5,700,920, certain of which are commonly owned with the instant application, and each of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

A further preferred modification of the sugar includes Locked Nucleic Acids (LNAs) in which the 2′-hydroxyl group is linked to the 3′ or 4′ carbon atom of the sugar ring, thereby forming a bicyclic sugar moiety. The linkage is preferably a methylene (—CH₂—)_(n) group bridging the 2′ oxygen atom and the 4′ carbon atom wherein n is 1 or 2. LNAs and preparation thereof are described in WO 98/39352 and WO 99/14226.

Natural and Modified Nucleobases

Antisense compounds may also include nucleobase (often referred to in the art as heterocyclic base or simply as “base”) modifications or substitutions. As used herein, “unmodified” or “natural” nucleobases include the purine bases adenine (A) and guanine (G), and the pyrimidine bases thymine (T), cytosine (C) and uracil (U). Modified nucleobases include other synthetic and natural nucleobases such as 5-methylcytosine (5-me-C), 5-hydroxymethyl cytosine, xanthine, hypoxanthine, 2-aminoadenine, 6-methyl and other alkyl derivatives of adenine and guanine, 2-propyl and other alkyl derivatives of adenine and guanine, 2-thiouracil, 2-thiothymine and 2-thiocytosine, 5-halouracil and cytosine, 5-propynyl (—C≡C—CH₃) uracil and cytosine and other alkynyl derivatives of pyrimidine bases, 6-azo uracil, cytosine and thymine, 5-uracil (pseudouracil), 4-thiouracil, 8-halo, 8-amino, 8-thiol, 8-thioalkyl, 8-hydroxyl and other 8-substituted adenines and guanines, 5-halo particularly 5-bromo, 5-trifluoromethyl and other 5-substituted uracils and cytosines, 7-methylguanine and 7-methyladenine, 2-F-adenine, 2-amino-adenine, 8-azaguanine and 8-azaadenine, 7-deazaguanine and 7-deazaadenine and 3-deazaguanine and 3-deazaadenine. Further modified nucleobases include tricyclic pyrimidines such as phenoxazine cytidine(1H-pyrimido[5,4-b][1,4]benzoxazin-2(3H)-one), phenothiazine cytidine (1 H-pyrimido[5,4-b][1,4]benzothiazin-2(3H)-one), G-clamps such as a substituted phenoxazine cytidine (e.g. 9-(2-aminoethoxy)-H-pyrimido[5,4-b][1,4]benzoxazin-2(3H)-one), carbazole cytidine (2H-pyrimido[4,5-b]indol-2-one), pyridoindole cytidine (H-pyrido[3′,2′:4,5]pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidin-2-one). Modified nucleobases may also include those in which the purine or pyrimidine base is replaced with other heterocycles, for example 7-deaza-adenine, 7-deazaguanosine, 2-aminopyridine and 2-pyridone. Further nucleobases include those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,687,808, those disclosed in The Concise Encyclopedia Of Polymer Science And Engineering, pages 858-859, Kroschwitz, J. I., ed. John Wiley & Sons, 1990, those disclosed by Englisch et al., Angewandte Chemie, International Edition, 1991, 30, 613, and those disclosed by Sanghvi, Y. S., Chapter 15, Antisense Research and Applications, pages 289-302, Crooke, S. T. and Lebleu, B., ed., CRC Press, 1993. Certain of these nucleobases are particularly useful for increasing the binding affinity of the compounds described herein. These include 5-substituted pyrimidines, 6-azapyrimidines and N-2, N-6 and 0-6 substituted purines, including 2-aminopropyladenine, 5-propynyluracil and 5-propynylcytosine. 5-methylcytosine substitutions have been shown to increase nucleic acid duplex stability by 0.6-1.2° C. and are presently preferred base substitutions, even more particularly when combined with 2′-O-methoxyethyl sugar modifications.

Representative United States patents that teach the preparation of certain of the above noted modified nucleobases as well as other modified nucleobases include, but are not limited to, the above noted U.S. Pat. No. 3,687,808, as well as U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,845,205; 5,130,302; 5,134,066; 5,175,273; 5,367,066; 5,432,272; 5,457,187; 5,459,255; 5,484,908; 5,502,177; 5,525,711; 5,552,540; 5,587,469; 5,594,121, 5,596,091; 5,614,617; 5,645,985; 5,830,653; 5,763,588; 6,005,096; and 5,681,941, certain of which are commonly owned with the instant application, and each of which is herein incorporated by reference, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,750,692, which is commonly owned with the instant application and also herein incorporated by reference.

Conjugates

Another modification of the antisense compounds involves chemically linking to the antisense compound one or more moieties or conjugates which enhance the activity, cellular distribution or cellular uptake of the oligonucleotide. These moieties or conjugates can include conjugate groups covalently bound to functional groups such as primary or secondary hydroxyl groups. Conjugate groups include intercalators, reporter molecules, polyamines, polyamides, polyethylene glycols, polyethers, groups that enhance the pharmacodynamic properties of oligomers, and groups that enhance the pharmacokinetic properties of oligomers. Typical conjugate groups include cholesterols, lipids, phospholipids, biotin, phenazine, folate, phenan-thridine, anthraquinone, acridine, fluoresceins, rhodamines, coumarins, and dyes. Groups that enhance the pharmacodynamic properties include groups that improve uptake, enhance resistance to degradation, and/or strengthen sequence-specific hybridization with the target nucleic acid. Groups that enhance the pharmacokinetic properties include groups that improve uptake, distribution, metabolism or excretion of the compounds described herein. Representative conjugate groups are disclosed in International Patent Application PCT/US92/09196, filed Oct. 23, 1992, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,287,860, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. Conjugate moieties include but are not limited to lipid moieties such as a cholesterol moiety, cholic acid, a thioether, e.g., hexyl-S-tritylthiol, a thiocholesterol, an aliphatic chain, e.g., dodecandiol or undecyl residues, a phospholipid, e.g., di-hexadecyl-rac-glycerol or triethylammonium 1,2-di-O-hexadecyl-rac-glycero-3-H-phosphonate, a polyamine or a polyethylene glycol chain, or adamantane acetic acid, a palmityl moiety, or an octadecylamine or hexylamino-carbonyl-oxycholesterol moiety. Antisense compounds may also be conjugated to active drug substances, for example, aspirin, warfarin, phenylbutazone, ibuprofen, suprofen, fenbufen, ketoprofen, (S)-(+)-pranoprofen, carprofen, dansylsarcosine, 2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid, flufenamic acid, folinic acid, a benzothiadiazide, chlorothiazide, a diazepine, indomethicin, a barbiturate, a cephalosporin, a sulfa drug, an antidiabetic, an antibacterial or an antibiotic. Oligonucleotide-drug conjugates and their preparation are described in U.S. patent application Ser. 09/334,130 (filed Jun. 15, 1999) which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Representative United States patents that teach the preparation of such oligonucleotide conjugates include, but are not limited to, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,828,979; 4,948,882; 5,218,105; 5,525,465; 5,541,313; 5,545,730; 5,552,538; 5,578,717, 5,580,731; 5,580,731; 5,591,584; 5,109,124; 5,118,802; 5,138,045; 5,414,077; 5,486,603; 5,512,439; 5,578,718; 5,608,046; 4,587,044; 4,605,735; 4,667,025; 4,762,779; 4,789,737; 4,824,941; 4,835,263; 4,876,335; 4,904,582; 4,958,013; 5,082,830; 5,112,963; 5,214,136; 5,082,830; 5,112,963; 5,214,136; 5,245,022; 5,254,469; 5,258,506; 5,262,536; 5,272,250; 5,292,873; 5,317,098; 5,371,241, 5,391,723; 5,416,203, 5,451,463; 5,510,475; 5,512,667; 5,514,785; 5,565,552; 5,567,810; 5,574,142; 5,585,481; 5,587,371; 5,595,726; 5,597,696; 5,599,923; 5,599,928 and 5,688,941, certain of which are commonly owned with the instant application, and each of which is herein incorporated by reference.

Chimeric Compounds

It is not necessary for all positions in a given compound to be uniformly modified, and in fact more than one of the aforementioned modifications may be incorporated in a single compound or even at a single nucleoside within an oligonucleotide.

Other embodiments also include antisense compounds which are chimeric compounds. “Chimeric” antisense compounds or “chimeras” are antisense compounds, particularly oligonucleotides, which contain two or more chemically distinct regions, each made up of at least one monomer unit, i.e., a nucleotide in the case of an oligonucleotide compound. Chimeric antisense oligonucleotides are thus a form of antisense compound. These oligonucleotides typically contain at least one region wherein the oligonucleotide is modified so as to confer upon the oligonucleotide increased resistance to nuclease degradation, increased cellular uptake, increased stability and/or increased binding affinity for the target nucleic acid. An additional region of the oligonucleotide may serve as a substrate for enzymes capable of cleaving RNA:DNA or RNA:RNA hybrids. By way of example, RNAse H is a cellular endonuclease which cleaves the RNA strand of an RNA:DNA duplex. Activation of RNase H, therefore, results in cleavage of the RNA target, thereby greatly enhancing the efficiency of oligonucleotide-mediated inhibition of gene expression. The cleavage of RNA:RNA hybrids can, in like fashion, be accomplished through the actions of endoribonucleases, such as RNAseL which cleaves both cellular and viral RNA. Cleavage of the RNA target can be routinely detected by gel electrophoresis and, if necessary, associated nucleic acid hybridization techniques known in the art.

Chimeric antisense compounds may be formed as composite structures of two or more oligonucleotides, modified oligonucleotides, oligonucleosides and/or oligonucleotide mimetics as described above. Such compounds have also been referred to in the art as hybrids or gapmers. Representative United States patents that teach the preparation of such hybrid structures include, but are not limited to, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,013,830; 5,149,797; 5,220,007; 5,256,775; 5,366,878; 5,403,711; 5,491,133; 5,565,350; 5,623,065; 5,652,355; 5,652,356; and 5,700,922, certain of which are commonly owned with the instant application, and each of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

G. Formulations

The compounds described herein may also be admixed, encapsulated, conjugated or otherwise associated with other molecules, molecule structures or mixtures of compounds, as for example, liposomes, receptor-targeted molecules, oral, rectal, topical or other formulations, for assisting in uptake, distribution and/or absorption. Representative United States patents that teach the preparation of such uptake, distribution and/or absorption-assisting formulations include, but are not limited to, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,108,921; 5,354,844; 5,416,016; 5,459,127; 5,521,291; 5,543,158; 5,547,932; 5,583,020; 5,591,721; 4,426,330; 4,534,899; 5,013,556; 5,108,921; 5,213,804; 5,227,170; 5,264,221; 5,356,633; 5,395,619; 5,416,016; 5,417,978; 5,462,854; 5,469,854; 5,512,295; 5,527,528; 5,534,259; 5,543,152; 5,556,948; 5,580,575; and 5,595,756, each of which is herein incorporated by reference.

The antisense compounds encompass any pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters, or salts of such esters, or any other compound which, upon administration to an animal, including a human, is capable of providing (directly or indirectly) the biologically active metabolite or residue thereof.

The term “pharmaceutically acceptable salts” refers to physiologically and pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the compounds described herein: i.e., salts that retain the desired biological activity of the parent compound and do not impart undesired toxicological effects thereto. For oligonucleotides, preferred examples of pharmaceutically acceptable salts and their uses are further described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,287,860, which is incorporated herein in its entirety.

Another embodiment is pharmaceutical compositions and formulations which include the antisense compounds described herein. The pharmaceutical compositions may be administered in a number of ways depending upon whether local or systemic treatment is desired and upon the area to be treated. Administration may be topical (including ophthalmic and to mucous membranes including vaginal and rectal delivery), pulmonary, e.g., by inhalation or insufflation of powders or aerosols, including by nebulizer; intratracheal, intranasal, epidermal and transdermal), oral or parenteral. Parenteral administration includes intravenous, intraarterial, subcutaneous, intraperitoneal or intramuscular injection or infusion; or intracranial, e.g., intrathecal or intraventricular, administration. Oligonucleotides with at least one 2′-O-methoxyethyl modification are believed to be particularly useful for oral administration. Pharmaceutical compositions and formulations for topical administration may include transdermal patches, ointments, lotions, creams, gels, drops, suppositories, sprays, liquids and powders. Conventional pharmaceutical carriers, aqueous, powder or oily bases, thickeners and the like may be necessary or desirable. Coated condoms, gloves and the like may also be useful.

The pharmaceutical formulations, which may conveniently be presented in unit dosage form, may be prepared according to conventional techniques well known in the pharmaceutical industry. Such techniques include the step of bringing into association the active ingredients with the pharmaceutical carrier(s) or excipient(s). In general, the formulations are prepared by uniformly and intimately bringing into association the active ingredients with liquid carriers or finely divided solid carriers or both, and then, if necessary, shaping the product.

The compositions may be formulated into any of many possible dosage forms such as, but not limited to, tablets, capsules, gel capsules, liquid syrups, soft gels, suppositories, and enemas. The compositions may also be formulated as suspensions in aqueous, non-aqueous or mixed media. Aqueous suspensions may further contain substances which increase the viscosity of the suspension including, for example, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, sorbitol and/or dextran. The suspension may also contain stabilizers.

Pharmaceutical compositions include, but are not limited to, solutions, emulsions, foams and liposome-containing formulations. The pharmaceutical compositions and formulations may comprise one or more penetration enhancers, carriers, excipients or other active or inactive ingredients.

Emulsions are typically heterogenous systems of one liquid dispersed in another in the form of droplets usually exceeding 0.1 μm in diameter. Emulsions may contain additional components in addition to the dispersed phases, and the active drug which may be present as a solution in either the aqueous phase, oily phase or itself as a separate phase. Microemulsions are also contemplated. Emulsions and their uses are well known in the art and are further described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,287,860, which is incorporated herein in its entirety.

Formulations include liposomal formulations. As used herein, the term “liposome” means a vesicle composed of amphiphilic lipids arranged in a spherical bilayer or bilayers. Liposomes are unilamellar or multilamellar vesicles which have a membrane formed from a lipophilic material and an aqueous interior that contains the composition to be delivered. Cationic liposomes are positively charged liposomes which are believed to interact with negatively charged DNA molecules to form a stable complex. Liposomes that are pH-sensitive or negatively-charged are believed to entrap DNA rather than complex with it. Both cationic and noncationic liposomes have been used to deliver DNA to cells.

Liposomes also include “sterically stabilized” liposomes, a term which, as used herein, refers to liposomes comprising one or more specialized lipids that, when incorporated into liposomes, result in enhanced circulation lifetimes relative to liposomes lacking such specialized lipids. Examples of sterically stabilized liposomes are those in which part of the vesicle-forming lipid portion of the liposome comprises one or more glycolipids or is derivatized with one or more hydrophilic polymers, such as a polyethylene glycol (PEG) moiety. Liposomes and their uses are further described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,287,860, which is incorporated herein in its entirety.

The pharmaceutical formulations and compositions may also include surfactants. The use of surfactants in drug products, formulations and in emulsions is well known in the art. Surfactants and their uses are further described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,287,860, which is incorporated herein in its entirety.

In one embodiment, various penetration enhancers are employed to affect the efficient delivery of nucleic acids, particularly oligonucleotides. In addition to aiding the diffusion of non-lipophilic drugs across cell membranes, penetration enhancers also enhance the permeability of lipophilic drugs. Penetration enhancers may be classified as belonging to one of five broad categories, i.e., surfactants, fatty acids, bile salts, chelating agents, and non-chelating non-surfactants. surfactants. Penetration enhancers and their uses are further described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,287,860, which is incorporated herein its entirety.

One of skill in the art will recognize that formulations are routinely designed according to their intended use, i.e. route of administration.

Preferred formulations for topical administration include those in which the oligonucleotides are in admixture with a topical delivery agent such as lipids, liposomes, fatty acids, fatty acid esters, steroids, chelating agents and surfactants. Preferred lipids and liposomes include neutral (e.g. dioleoylphosphatidyl DOPE ethanolamine, dimyristoylphosphatidyl choline DMPC, distearolyphosphatidyl choline) negative (e.g. dimyristoylphosphatidyl glycerol DMPG) and cationic (e.g. dioleoyltetramethylaminopropyl DOTAP and dioleoylphosphatidyl ethanolamine DOTMA).

For topical or other administration, oligonucleotides may be encapsulated within liposomes or may form complexes thereto, in particular to cationic liposomes. Alternatively, oligonucleotides may be complexed to lipids, in particular to cationic lipids. Preferred fatty acids and esters, pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, and their uses are further described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,287,860, which is incorporated herein in its entirety. Topical formulations are described in detail in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/315,298 filed on May 20, 1999, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Compositions and formulations for oral administration include powders or granules, microparticulates, nanoparticulates, suspensions or solutions in water or non-aqueous media, capsules, gel capsules, sachets, tablets or minitablets. Thickeners, flavoring agents, diluents, emulsifiers, dispersing aids or binders may be desirable. Preferred oral formulations are those in which oligonucleotides are administered in conjunction with one or more penetration enhancers surfactants and chelators. Preferred surfactants include fatty acids and/or esters or salts thereof, bile acids and/or salts thereof. Preferred bile acids/salts and fatty acids and their uses are further described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,287,860, which is incorporated herein in its entirety. Also preferred are combinations of penetration enhancers, for example, fatty acids/salts in combination with bile acids/salts. A particularly preferred combination is the sodium salt of lauric acid, capric acid and UDCA. Further penetration enhancers include polyoxyethylene-9-lauryl ether, polyoxyethylene-20-cetyl ether. Oligonucleotides may be delivered orally, in granular form including sprayed dried particles, or complexed to form micro or nanoparticles. Oligonucleotide complexing agents and their uses are further described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,287,860, which is incorporated herein in its entirety. Oral formulations for oligonucleotides and their preparations are described in detail in U.S. applications Ser. No. 09/108,673 (filed Jul. 1, 1998), Ser. No. 09/315,298 (filed May 20, 1999) and Ser. No. 10/071,822, filed Feb. 8, 2002, each of which is incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

Compositions and formulations for parenteral, intrathecal or intraventricular administration may include sterile aqueous solutions which may also contain buffers, diluents and other suitable additives such as, but not limited to, penetration enhancers, carrier compounds and other pharmaceutically acceptable carriers or excipients.

Certain embodiments provide pharmaceutical compositions containing one or more oligomeric compounds and one or more other chemotherapeutic agents which function by a non-antisense mechanism. Examples of such chemotherapeutic agents include but are not limited to cancer chemotherapeutic drugs such as daunorubicin, daunomycin, dactinomycin, doxorubicin, epirubicin, idarubicin, esorubicin, bleomycin, mafosfamide, ifosfamide, cytosine arabinoside, bis-chloroethylnitrosurea, busulfan, mitomycin C, actinomycin D, mithramycin, prednisone, hydroxyprogesterone, testosterone, tamoxifen, dacarbazine, procarbazine, hexamethylmelamine, pentamethylmelamine, mitoxantrone, amsacrine, chlorambucil, methylcyclohexylnitrosurea, nitrogen mustards, melphalan, cyclophosphamide, 6-mercaptopurine, 6-thioguanine, cytarabine, 5-azacytidine, hydroxyurea, deoxycoformycin, 4-hydroxyperoxycyclophosphoramide, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), 5-fluorodeoxyuridine (5-FUdR), methotrexate (MTX), colchicine, taxol, vincristine, vinblastine, etoposide (VP-16), trimetrexate, irinotecan, topotecan, gemcitabine, teniposide, cisplatin and diethylstilbestrol (DES). When used with the antisense compounds described herein, such chemotherapeutic agents may be used individually (e.g., 5-FU and oligonucleotide), sequentially (e.g., 5-FU and oligonucleotide for a period of time followed by MTX and oligonucleotide), or in combination with one or more other such chemotherapeutic agents (e.g., 5-FU, MTX and oligonucleotide, or 5-FU, radiotherapy and oligonucleotide). Anti-inflammatory drugs, including but not limited to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and corticosteroids, and antiviral drugs, including but not limited to ribivirin, vidarabine, acyclovir and ganciclovir, may also be combined in compositions described herein. Combinations of antisense compounds and other non-antisense drugs are also contemplated. Two or more combined compounds may be used together or sequentially.

In another related embodiment, the compositions may contain one or more antisense compounds, particularly oligonucleotides, targeted to a first nucleic acid and one or more additional antisense compounds targeted to a second nucleic acid target. Alternatively, compositions may contain two or more antisense compounds targeted to different regions of the same nucleic acid target. Numerous examples of antisense compounds are known in the art. Two or more combined compounds may be used together or sequentially.

H. Dosing

The formulation of therapeutic compositions and their subsequent administration (dosing) is believed to be within the skill of those in the art. Dosing is dependent on severity and responsiveness of the disease state to be treated, with the course of treatment lasting from several days to several months, or until a cure is effected or a diminution of the disease state is achieved. Optimal dosing schedules can be calculated from measurements of drug accumulation in the body of the patient. Persons of ordinary skill can easily determine optimum dosages, dosing methodologies and repetition rates. Optimum dosages may vary depending on the relative potency of individual oligonucleotides, and can generally be estimated based on EC₅₀s found to be effective in in vitro and in vivo animal models. In general, dosage is from 0.01 μg to 100 g per kg of body weight, and may be given once or more daily, weekly, monthly or yearly, or even once every 2 to 20 years. Persons of ordinary skill in the art can easily estimate repetition rates for dosing based on measured residence times and concentrations of the drug in bodily fluids or tissues. Following successful treatment, it may be desirable to have the patient undergo maintenance therapy to prevent the recurrence of the disease state, wherein the oligonucleotide is administered in maintenance doses, ranging from 0.01 μg to 100 g per kg of body weight, once or more daily, to once every 20 years.

While preferred embodiments have been discussed herein, the following examples are meant to be illustrative and not limiting. Each of the references, GenBank accession numbers, and the like recited in the present application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

EXAMPLES Example 1

Synthesis of Nucleoside Phosphoramidites

The following compounds, including amidites and their intermediates were prepared as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,426,220 and published PCT WO 02/36743; 5′-O-Dimethoxytrityl-thymidine intermediate for 5-methyl dC amidite, 5′-O-Dimethoxytrityl-2′-deoxy-5-methylcytidine intermediate for 5-methyl-dC amidite, 5′-O-Dimethoxytrityl-2′-deoxy-N4-benzoyl-5-methylcytidine penultimate intermediate for 5-methyl dC amidite, [5′-O-(4,4′-Dimethoxytriphenylmethyl)-2′-deoxy-N⁴-benzoyl-5-methylcytidin-3′-O-yl]-2-cyanoethyl-N,N-diisopropylphosphoramidite (5-methyl dC amidite), 2′-Fluorodeoxyadenosine, 2′-Fluorodeoxyguanosine, 2′-Fluorouridine, 2′-Fluorodeoxycytidine, 2′-O-(2-Methoxyethyl) modified amidites, 2′-O-(2-methoxyethyl)-5-methyluridine intermediate, 5′-O-DMT-2′-O-(2-methoxyethyl)-5-methyluridine penultimate intermediate, [5′-O-(4,4′-Dimethoxytriphenylmethyl)-2′-O-(2-methoxyethyl)-5-methyluridin-3′-O-yl]-2-cyanoethyl-N,N-diisopropylphosphoramidite (MOE T amidite), 5′-O-Dimethoxytrityl-2′-O-(2-methoxyethyl)-5-methylcytidine intermediate, 5′-O-dimethoxytrityl-2′-O-(2-methoxyethyl)-N⁴-benzoyl-5-methylcytidine penultimate intermediate, [5′-O-(4,4′-Dimethoxytriphenylmethyl)-2′-O-(2-methoxyethyl)-N⁴-benzoyl-5-methylcytidin-3′-O-yl]-2-cyanoethyl-N,N-diisopropylphosphoramidite (MOE 5-Me-C amidite), [5′-O-(4,4′-Dimethoxytriphenylmethyl)-2′-O-(2-methoxyethyl)-N⁶-benzoyladenosin-3′-O-yl]-2-cyanoethyl-N,N-diisopropylphosphoramidite (MOE A amdite), [5′-O-(4,4′-Dimethoxytriphenylmethyl)-2′-O-(2-methoxyethyl)-N⁴-isobutyrylguanosin-3′-O-yl]-2-cyanoethyl-N,N-diisopropylphosphoramidite (MOE G amidite), 2′-O-(Aminooxyethyl) nucleoside amidites and 2′-O-(dimethylaminooxyethyl) nucleoside amidites, 2′-(Dimethylaminooxyethoxy) nucleoside amidites, 5′-O-tert-Butyldiphenylsilyl-O ²-2′-anhydro-5-methyluridine, 5′-O-tert-Butyldiphenylsilyl-2′-O-(2-hydroxyethyl)-5-methyluridine, 2′-O-([2-phthalimidoxy)ethyl]-5′-t-butyldiphenylsilyl-5-methyluridine, 5′-O-tert-butyldiphenylsilyl-2′-O-[(2-formadoximinooxy)ethyl]-5-methyluridine, 5′-O-tert-Butyldiphenylsilyl-2′-O-[N,N dimethylaminooxyethyl]-5-methyluridine, 2′-O-(dimethylaminooxyethyl)-5-methyluridine, 5′-O-DMT-2′-O-(dimethylaminooxyethyl)-5-methyluridine, 5′-O-DMT-2′-O-(2-N,N-dimethylaminooxyethyl)-5-methyluridine-3′-[(2-cyanoethyl)-N,N-diisopropylphosphoramidite], 2′-(Aminooxyethoxy) nucleoside amidites, N2-isobutyryl-6-O-diphenylcarbamoyl-2′-O-(2-ethylacetyl)-5′-O-(4,4′-dimethoxytrityl)guanosine-3′-[(2-cyanoethyl)-N,N-diisopropylphosphoramidite], 2′-dimethylaminoethoxyethoxy (2′-DMAEOE) nucleoside amidites, 2′-O-[2(2-N,N-dimethylaminoethoxy)ethyl]-5-methyl uridine, 5′-O-dimethoxytrityl-2′-O-[2(2-N,N-dimethylaminoethoxy)-ethyl)]-5-methyl uridine and 5′-O-Dimethoxytrityl-2′-O-[2(2-N,N-dimethylaminoethoxy)-ethyl)]-5-methyl uridine-3′-O-(cyanoethyl-N,N-diisopropyl)phosphoramidite.

Example 2

Oligonucleotide and Oligonucleoside Synthesis

The antisense compounds described herein may be conveniently and routinely made through the well-known technique of solid phase synthesis. Equipment for such synthesis is sold by several vendors including, for example, Applied Biosystems (Foster City, Calif.). Any other means for such synthesis known in the art may additionally or alternatively be employed. It is well known to use similar techniques to prepare oligonucleotides such as the phosphorothioates and alkylated derivatives. Oligonucleotides: Unsubstituted and substituted phosphodiester (P═O) oligonucleotides are synthesized on an automated DNA synthesizer (Applied Biosystems model 394) using standard phosphoramidite chemistry with oxidation by iodine.

Phosphorothioates (P═S) are synthesized similar to phosphodiester oligonucleotides with the following exceptions: thiation was effected by utilizing a 10% w/v solution of 3,H-1,2-benzodithiole-3-one 1,1-dioxide in acetonitrile for the oxidation of the phosphite linkages. The thiation reaction step time was increased to 180 sec and preceded by the normal capping step. After cleavage from the CPG column and deblocking in concentrated ammonium hydroxide at 55° C. (12-16 hr), the oligonucleotides were recovered by precipitating with >3 volumes of ethanol from a 1 M NH₄OAc solution. Phosphinate oligonucleotides are prepared as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,508,270, herein incorporated by reference.

Alkyl phosphonate oligonucleotides are prepared as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,469,863, herein by reference.

3′-Deoxy-3′-methylene phosphonate oligonucleotides are prepared as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,610,289 or 5,625,050, herein incorporated by reference.

Phosphoramidite oligonucleotides are prepared as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,256,775 or U.S. Pat. No. 5,366,878, herein incorporated by reference.

Alkylphosphonothionate oligonucleotides are prepared as described in published PCT applications PCT/US94/00902 and PCT/US93/06976 (published as WO 94/17093 and WO 94/02499, respectively), herein incorporated by reference.

3′-Deoxy-3′-amino phosphoramidate oligonucleotides are prepared as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,476,925, herein incorporated by reference.

Phosphotriester oligonucleotides are prepared as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,023,243, herein incorporated by reference.

Borano phosphate oligonucleotides are prepared as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,130,302 and 5,177,198, both herein incorporated by reference.

Oligonucleosides: Methylenemethylimino linked oligonucleosides, also identified as MMI linked oligonucleosides, methylenedimethylhydrazo linked oligonucleosides, also identified as MDH linked oligonucleosides, and methylenecarbonylamino linked oligonucleosides, also identified as amide-3 linked oligonucleosides, and methyleneaminocarbonyl linked oligonucleosides, also identified as amide-4 linked oligo-nucleosides, as well as mixed backbone compounds having, for instance, alternating MMI and P═O or P═S linkages are prepared as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,378,825, 5,386,023, 5,489,677, 5,602,240 and 5,610,289, all of which are herein incorporated by reference.

Formacetal and thioformacetal linked oligonucleosides are prepared as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,264,562 and 5,264,564, herein incorporated by reference.

Ethylene oxide linked oligonucleosides are prepared as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,223,618, herein incorporated by reference.

Example 3

RNA Synthesis

In general, RNA synthesis chemistry is based on the selective incorporation of various protecting groups at strategic intermediary reactions. Although one of ordinary skill in the art will understand the use of protecting groups in organic synthesis, a useful class of protecting groups includes silyl ethers. In particular bulky silyl ethers are used to protect the 5′-hydroxyl in combination with an acid-labile orthoester protecting group on the 2′-hydroxyl. This set of protecting groups is then used with standard solid-phase synthesis technology. It is important to lastly remove the acid labile orthoester protecting group after all other synthetic steps. Moreover, the early use of the silyl protecting groups during synthesis ensures facile removal when desired, without undesired deprotection of 2′ hydroxyl.

Following this procedure for the sequential protection of the 5′-hydroxyl in combination with protection of the 2′-hydroxyl by protecting groups that are differentially removed and are differentially chemically labile, RNA oligonucleotides were synthesized.

RNA oligonucleotides are synthesized in a stepwise fashion. Each nucleotide is added sequentially (3′- to 5′-direction) to a solid support-bound oligonucleotide. The first nucleoside at the 3′-end of the chain is covalently attached to a solid support. The nucleotide precursor, a ribonucleoside phosphoramidite, and activator are added, coupling the second base onto the 5′-end of the first nucleoside. The support is washed and any unreacted 5′-hydroxyl groups are capped with acetic anhydride to yield 5′-acetyl moieties. The linkage is then oxidized to the more stable and ultimately desired P(V) linkage. At the end of the nucleotide addition cycle, the 5′-silyl group is cleaved with fluoride. The cycle is repeated for each subsequent nucleotide.

Following synthesis, the methyl protecting groups on the phosphates are cleaved in 30 minutes utilizing 1 M disodium-2-carbamoyl-2-cyanoethylene-1,1-dithiolate trihydrate (S₂Na₂) water. The support is then treated with 40% methylamine in water for 10 minutes at 55° C. This releases the RNA oligonucleotides into solution, deprotects the exocyclic amines, and modifies the 2′-groups. The oligonucleotides can be analyzed by anion exchange HPLC at this stage.

The 2′-orthoester groups are the last protecting groups to be removed. The ethylene glycol monoacetate orthoester protecting group developed by Dharmacon Research, Inc. water. The support is then treated with 40% methylamine in water for 10 minutes at 55° C. This important properties. It is stable to the conditions of nucleoside phosphoramidite synthesis and oligonucleotide synthesis. However, after oligonucleotide synthesis the oligonucleotide is treated with methylamine which not only cleaves the oligonucleotide from the solid support but also removes the acetyl groups from the orthoesters. The resulting 2-ethyl-hydroxyl substituents on the orthoester are less electron withdrawing than the acetylated precursor. As a result, the modified orthoester becomes more labile to acid-catalyzed hydrolysis. Specifically, the rate of cleavage is approximately 10 times faster after the acetyl groups are removed. Therefore, this orthoester possesses sufficient stability in order to be compatible with oligonucleotide synthesis and yet, when subsequently modified, permits deprotection to be carried out under relatively mild aqueous conditions compatible with the final RNA oligonucleotide product.

Additionally, methods of RNA synthesis are well known in the art (Scaringe, S. A. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Colorado, 1996; Scaringe, S. A., et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1998, 120, 11820-11821; Matteucci, M. D. and Caruthers, M. H. J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1981, 103, 3185-3191; Beaucage, S. L. and Caruthers, M. H. Tetrahedron Lett., 1981, 22, 1859-1862; Dahl, B. J., et al., Acta Chem. Scand,. 1990, 44, 639-641; Reddy, M. P., et al., Tetrahedron. Lett., 1994, 25, 4311-4314; Wincott, F. et al., Nucleic Acids Res., 1995, 23, 2677-2684; Griffin, B. E., et al., Tetrahedron, 1967, 23, 2301-2313; Griffin, B. E., et al., Tetrahedron, 1967, 23, 2315-2331).

RNA antisense compounds (RNA oligonucleotides) can be synthesized by the methods herein or purchased from Dharmacon Research, Inc (Lafayette, Colo.). Once synthesized, complementary RNA antisense compounds can then be annealed by methods known in the art to form double stranded (duplexed) antisense compounds. For example, duplexes can be formed by combining 30 μl of each of the complementary strands of RNA oligonucleotides (50 μM RNA oligonucleotide solution) and 15 μl of 5× annealing buffer (100 mM potassium acetate, 30 mM HEPES-KOH pH 7.4, 2 mM magnesium acetate) followed by heating for 1 minute at 90° C., then 1 hour at 37° C. The resulting duplexed antisense compounds can be used in kits, assays, screens, or other methods to investigate the role of a target nucleic acid, or for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes.

Example 4

Synthesis of Chimeric Compounds

Chimeric oligonucleotides, oligonucleosides or mixed oligonucleotides/oligonucleosides can be of several different types. These include a first type wherein the “gap” segment of linked nucleosides is positioned between 5′ and 3′ “wing” segments of linked nucleosides and a second “open end” type wherein the “gap” segment is located at either the 3′ or the 5′ terminus of the oligomeric compound. Oligonucleotides of the first type are also known in the art as “gapmers” or gapped oligonucleotides. Oligonucleotides of the second type are also known in the art as “hemimers” or “wingmers”.

[2′-O-Me]-[2′-deoxy]-[2′-O-Me] Chimeric Phosphorothioate Oligonucleotides

Chimeric oligonucleotides having 2′-O-alkyl phosphorothioate and 2′-deoxy phosphorothioate oligonucleotide segments are synthesized using an Applied Biosystems automated DNA synthesizer Model 394, as above. Oligonucleotides are synthesized using the automated synthesizer and 2′-deoxy-5′-dimethoxytrityl-3′-O-phosphoramidite for the DNA portion and 5′-dimethoxytrityl-2′-O-methyl-3′-0-phosphoramidite for 5′ and 3′ wings. The standard synthesis cycle is modified by incorporating coupling steps with increased reaction times for the 5′-dimethoxytrityl-2′-O-methyl-3′-0-phosphoramidite. The fully protected oligonucleotide is cleaved from the support and deprotected in concentrated ammonia (NH₄OH) for 12-16 hr at 55° C. The deprotected oligo is then recovered by an appropriate method (precipitation, column chromatography, volume reduced in vacuo and analyzed spetrophotometrically for yield and for purity by capillary electrophoresis and by mass spectrometry.

[2′-O-(2-Methoxyethyl)]-[2′-deoxy]-[2′-O-(Methoxyethyl)] Chimeric Phosphorothioate Oligonucleotides

[2′-O-(2-methoxyethyl)]-[2′-deoxy]-[-2′-O-(methoxyethyl)] chimeric phosphorothioate oligonucleotides were prepared as per the procedure above for the 2′-O-methyl chimeric oligonucleotide, with the substitution of 2′-O-(methoxyethyl) amidites for the 2′-O-methyl amidites.

[2′-O-(2-Methoxyethyl)Phosphodiester]-[2′-deoxy Phosphorothioate]-[2′-O-(2-Methoxyethyl)Phosphodiester] Chimeric Oligonucleotides

[2′-O-(2-methoxyethyl phosphodiester]-[2′-deoxy phosphorothioate]-[2′-O-(methoxyethyl)phosphodiester] chimeric oligonucleotides are prepared as per the above procedure for the 2′-O-methyl chimeric oligonucleotide with the substitution of 2′-O-(methoxyethyl)amidites for the 2′-O-methyl amidites, oxidation with iodine to generate the phosphodiester internucleotide linkages within the wing portions of the chimeric structures and sulfurization utilizing 3,H-1,2 benzodithiole-3-one 1,1 dioxide (Beaucage Reagent) to generate the phosphorothioate internucleotide linkages for the center gap.

Other chimeric oligonucleotides, chimeric oligonucleosides and mixed chimeric oligonucleotides/oligonucleosides are synthesized according to U.S. Pat. No. 5,623,065, herein incorporated by reference.

Example 5

Design and Screening of Duplexed Antisense Compounds Targeting STAT5

A series of nucleic acid duplexes comprising the antisense compounds described herein and their complements can be designed to target STAT5. The nucleobase sequence of the antisense strand of the duplex comprises at least an 8-nucleobase portion of an oligonucleotide in Table 1. The ends of the strands may be modified by the addition of one or more natural or modified nucleobases to form an overhang. The sense strand of the dsRNA is then designed and synthesized as the complement of the antisense strand and may also contain modifications or additions to either terminus. For example, in one embodiment, both strands of the dsRNA duplex would be complementary over the central nucleobases, each having overhangs at one or both termini.

For example, a duplex comprising an antisense strand having the sequence CGAGAGGCGGACGGGACCG (SEQ ID NO: 214) and having a two-nucleobase overhang of deoxythymidine(dT) would have the following structure:   cgagaggcggacgggaccgTT Antisense Strand (SEQ ID NO: 215)   ||||||||||||||||||| TTgctctccgcctgccctggc Complement (SEQ ID NO: 216)

In another embodiment, a duplex comprising an antisense strand having the same sequence CGAGAGGCGGACGGGACCG (SEQ ID NO: 214) may be prepared with blunt ends (no single stranded overhang) as shown: cgagaggcggacgggaccg Antisense Strand (SEQ ID NO: 214) ||||||||||||||||||| gctctccgcctgccctggc Complement (SEQ ID NO: 217)

RNA strands of the duplex can be synthesized by methods disclosed herein or purchased from Dharmacon Research Inc., (Lafayette, Colo.). Once synthesized, the complementary strands are annealed. The single strands are aliquotted and diluted to a concentration of 50 μM. Once diluted, 30 μL of each strand is combined with 15 μL of a 5× solution of annealing buffer. The final concentration of said buffer is 100 mM potassium acetate, 30 mM HEPES-KOH pH 7.4, and 2 mM magnesium acetate. The final volume is 75 μL. This solution is incubated for 1 minute at 90° C. and then centrifuged for 15 seconds. The tube is allowed to sit for 1 hour at 37° C. at which time the dsRNA duplexes are used in experimentation. The final concentration of the dsRNA duplex is 20 μM. This solution can be stored frozen (−20° C.) and freeze-thawed up to 5 times.

Once prepared, the duplexed antisense compounds are evaluated for their ability to modulate STAT5 expression.

When cells reached 80% confluency, they are treated with duplexed antisense compounds. For cells grown in 96-well plates, wells are washed once with 200 μL OPTI-MEM-1 reduced-serum medium (Gibco BRL) and then treated with 130 μL of OPTI-MEM-1 containing 12 μg/mL LIPOFECTIN (Gibco BRL) and the desired duplex antisense compound at a final concentration of 200 nM. After 5 hours of treatment, the medium is replaced with fresh medium. Cells are harvested 16 hours after treatment, at which time RNA is isolated and target reduction measured by RT-PCR.

Example 6

Oligonucleotide Isolation

After cleavage from the controlled pore glass solid support and deblocking in concentrated ammonium hydroxide at 55° C. for 12-16 hours, the oligonucleotides or oligonucleosides are recovered by precipitation out of 1 M NH₄OAc with >3 volumes of ethanol. Synthesized oligonucleotides were analyzed by electrospray mass spectroscopy (molecular weight determination) and by capillary gel electrophoresis and judged to be at least 70% full length material. The relative amounts of phosphorothioate and phosphodiester linkages obtained in the synthesis was determined by the ratio of correct molecular weight relative to the −16 amu product (±32 ±48). For some studies oligonucleotides were purified by HPLC, as described by Chiang et al., J. Biol. Chem. 1991, 266, 18162-18171. Results obtained with HPLC-purified material were similar to those obtained with non-HPLC purified material.

Example 7

Oligonucleotide Synthesis—96 Well Plate Format

Oligonucleotides were synthesized via solid phase P(III) phosphoramidite chemistry on an automated synthesizer capable of assembling 96 sequences simultaneously in a 96-well format. Phosphodiester internucleotide linkages were afforded by oxidation with aqueous iodine. Phosphorothioate internucleotide linkages were generated by sulfurization utilizing 3,H-1,2 benzodithiole-3-one 1,1 dioxide (Beaucage Reagent) in anhydrous acetonitrile. Standard base-protected beta-cyanoethyl-diiso-propyl phosphoramidites were purchased from commercial vendors (e.g. PE-Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif., or Pharmacia, Piscataway, N.J.). Non-standard nucleosides are synthesized as per standard or patented methods. They are utilized as base protected beta-cyanoethyldiisopropyl phosphoramidites.

Oligonucleotides were cleaved from support and deprotected with concentrated NH₄OH at elevated temperature (55-60° C.) for 12-16 hours and the released product then dried in vacuo. The dried product was then re-suspended in sterile water to afford a master plate from which all analytical and test plate samples are then diluted utilizing robotic pipettors.

Example 8

Oligonucleotide Analysis—96-Well Plate Format

The concentration of oligonucleotide in each well was assessed by dilution of samples and UV absorption spectroscopy. The full-length integrity of the individual products was evaluated by capillary electrophoresis (CE) in either the 96-well format (Beckman P/ACE™ MDQ) or, for individually prepared samples, on a commercial CE apparatus (e.g., Beckman P/ACE™ 5000, ABI 270). Base and backbone composition was confirmed by mass analysis of the compounds utilizing electrospray-mass spectroscopy. All assay test plates were diluted from the master plate using single and multi-channel robotic pipettors. Plates were judged to be acceptable if at least 85% of the compounds on the plate were at least 85% full length.

Example 9

Cell Culture and Oligonucleotide Treatment

The effect of antisense compounds on target nucleic acid expression can be tested in any of a variety of cell types provided that the target nucleic acid is present at measurable levels. This can be routinely determined using, for example, PCR or Northern blot analysis. The following cell types are provided for illustrative purposes, but other cell types can be routinely used, provided that the target is expressed in the cell type chosen. This can be readily determined by methods routine in the art, for example Northern blot analysis, ribonuclease protection assays, or RT-PCR.

T-24 Cells:

The human transitional cell bladder carcinoma cell line T-24 was obtained from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) (Manassas, Va.). T-24 cells were routinely cultured in complete McCoy's 5A basal media (Invitrogen Corporation, Carlsbad, Calif.) supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum (Invitrogen Corporation, Carlsbad, Calif.), penicillin 100 units per mL, and streptomycin 100 micrograms per mL (Invitrogen Corporation, Carlsbad, Calif.). Cells were routinely passaged by trypsinization and dilution when they reached 90% confluence. Cells were seeded into 96-well plates (Falcon-Primaria #353872) at a density of 7000 cells/well for use in RT-PCR analysis.

For Northern blotting or other analysis, cells may be seeded onto 100 mm or other standard tissue culture plates and treated similarly, using appropriate volumes of medium and oligonucleotide.

A549 Cells:

The human lung carcinoma cell line A549 was obtained from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) (Manassas, Va.). A549 cells were routinely cultured in DMEM basal media (Invitrogen Corporation, Carlsbad, Calif.) supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum (Invitrogen Carlsbad, Calif.), penicillin 100 units per mL, and streptomycin 100 micrograms per mL (Invitrogen Corporation, Carlsbad, Calif.). Cells were routinely passaged by trypsinization and dilution when they reached 90% confluence.

NHDF Cells:

Human neonatal dermal fibroblast (NHDF) were obtained from the Clonetics Corporation (Walkersville, Md.). NHDFs were routinely maintained in Fibroblast Growth Medium (Clonetics Corporation, Walkersville, Md.) supplemented as recommended by the supplier. Cells were maintained for up to 10 passages as recommended by the supplier.

HEK Cells:

Human embryonic keratinocytes (HEK) were obtained from the Clonetics Corporation (Walkersville, Md.). HEKs were routinely maintained in Keratinocyte Growth Medium (Clonetics Corporation, Walkersville, Md.) formulated as recommended by the supplier. Cells were routinely maintained for up to 10 passages as recommended by the supplier.

Treatment with Antisense Compounds:

When cells reached 65-75% confluency, they were treated with oligonucleotide. For cells grown in 96-well plates, wells were washed once with 100 μL OPTI-MEM™-1 reduced-serum medium (Invitrogen Corporation, Carlsbad, Calif.) and then treated with 130 μL of OPTI-MEM™-1 containing 3.75 μg/mL LIPOFECTIN™ (Invitrogen Corporation, Carlsbad, Calif.) and the desired concentration of oligonucleotide. Cells are treated and data are obtained in triplicate. After 4-7 hours of treatment at 37° C., the medium was replaced with fresh medium. Cells were harvested 16-24 hours after oligonucleotide treatment.

The concentration of oligonucleotide used varies from cell line to cell line. To determine the optimal oligonucleotide concentration for a particular cell line, the cells are treated with a positive control oligonucleotide at a range of concentrations. For human cells the positive control oligonucleotide is selected from either ISIS 13920 (TCCGTCATCGCTCCTCAGGG, SEQ ID NO: 1) which is targeted to human H-ras, or ISIS 18078, (GTGCGCGCGAGCCCGAAATC, SEQ ID NO: 2) which is targeted to human Jun-N-terminal kinase-2 (JNK2). Both controls are 2′-O-methoxyethyl gapmers (2′-O-methoxyethyls shown in bold) with a phosphorothioate backbone. For mouse or rat cells the positive control oligonucleotide is ISIS 15770, ATGCATTCTGCCCCCAAGGA, SEQ ID NO: 3, a 2′-O-methoxyethyl gapmer (2′-O-methoxyethyls shown in bold) with a phosphorothioate backbone which is targeted to both mouse and rat c-raf. The concentration of positive control oligonucleotide that results in 80% inhibition of c-H-ras (for ISIS 13920), JNK2 (for ISIS 18078) or c-raf (for ISIS 15770) mRNA is then utilized as the screening concentration for new oligonucleotides in subsequent experiments for that cell line. If 80% inhibition is not achieved, the lowest concentration of positive control oligonucleotide that results in 60% inhibition of c-H-ras, JNK2 or c-raf mRNA is then utilized as the oligonucleotide screening concentration in subsequent experiments for that cell line. If 60% inhibition is not achieved, that particular cell line is deemed as unsuitable for oligonucleotide transfection experiments. The concentrations of antisense oligonucleotides used herein are from 50 nM to 300 nM.

Example 10

Analysis of Oligonucleotide Inhibition of STAT5 Expression

Antisense modulation of STAT5 expression can be assayed in a variety of ways known in the art. For example, STAT5 mRNA levels can be quantitated by, e.g., Northern blot analysis, competitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR), or real-time PCR (RT-PCR). Real-time quantitative PCR is presently preferred. RNA analysis can be performed on total cellular RNA or poly(A)+ mRNA. The preferred method of RNA analysis is the use of total cellular RNA as described in other examples herein. Methods of RNA isolation are well known in the art. Northern blot analysis is also routine in the art. Real-time quantitative (PCR) can be conveniently accomplished using the commercially available ABI PRISM™ 7600, 7700, or 7900 Sequence Detection System, available from PE-Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif. and used according to manufacturer's instructions.

Protein levels of STAT5 can be quantitated in a variety of ways well known in the art, such as immunoprecipitation, Western blot analysis (immunoblotting), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) or fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). Antibodies directed to STAT5 can be identified and obtained from a variety of sources, such as the MSRS catalog of antibodies (Aerie Corporation, Birmingham, Mich.), or can be prepared via conventional monoclonal or polyclonal antibody generation methods well known in the art.

Example 11

Design of Phenotypic Assays for the Use of STAT5 Inhibitors

Phenotypic Assays

Once STAT5 inhibitors have been identified by the methods disclosed herein, the compounds are further investigated in one or more phenotypic assays, each having measurable endpoints predictive of efficacy in the treatment of a particular disease state or condition. Phenotypic assays, kits and reagents for their use are well known to those skilled in the art and are herein used to investigate the role and/or association of STAT5 in health and disease. Representative phenotypic assays, which can be purchased from any one of several commercial vendors, include those for determining cell viability, cytotoxicity, proliferation or cell survival (Molecular Probes, Eugene, Oreg.; PerkinElmer, Boston, Mass.), protein-based assays including enzymatic assays (Panvera, LLC, Madison, Wis.; BD Biosciences, Franklin Lakes, N.J.; Oncogene Research Products, San Diego, Calif.), cell regulation, signal transduction, inflammation, oxidative processes and apoptosis (Assay Designs Inc., Ann Arbor, Mich.), triglyceride accumulation (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, Mo.), angiogenesis assays, tube formation assays, cytokine and hormone assays and metabolic assays (Chemicon International Inc., Temecula, Calif.; Amersham Biosciences, Piscataway, N.J.).

In one non-limiting example, cells determined to be appropriate for a particular phenotypic assay (i.e., MCF-7 cells selected for breast cancer studies; adipocytes for obesity studies) are treated with STAT5 inhibitors identified from the in vitro studies as well as control compounds at optimal concentrations which are determined by the methods described above. At the end of the treatment period, treated and untreated cells are analyzed by one or more methods specific for the assay to determine phenotypic outcomes and endpoints.

Phenotypic endpoints include changes in cell morphology over time or treatment dose as well as changes in levels of cellular components such as proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, hormones, saccharides or metals. Measurements of cellular status which include pH, stage of the cell cycle, intake or excretion of biological indicators by the cell, are also endpoints of interest.

Analysis of the genotype of the cell (measurement of the expression of one or more of the genes of the cell) after treatment is also used as an indicator of the efficacy or potency of the STAT5 inhibitors. Hallmark genes, or those genes suspected to be associated with a specific disease state, condition, or phenotype, are measured in both treated and untreated cells.

Example 12

RNA Isolation

Poly(A)+ mRNA Isolation

Poly(A)+ mRNA was isolated according to Miura et al., (Clin. Chem., 1996, 42, 1758-1764). Other methods for poly(A)+ mRNA isolation are routine in the art. Briefly, for cells grown on 96-well plates, growth medium was removed from the cells and each well was washed with 200 μL cold PBS. 60 μL lysis buffer (10 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.6, 1 mM EDTA, 0.5 M NaCl, 0.5% NP-40, 20 mM vanadyl-ribonucleoside complex) was added to each well, the plate was gently agitated and then incubated at room temperature for five minutes. 55 μL of lysate was transferred to Oligo d(T) coated 96-well plates (AGCT Inc., Irvine Calif.). Plates were incubated for 60 minutes at room temperature, washed 3 times with 200 μL of wash buffer (10 mM Tris-HCl pH 7.6, 1 mM EDTA, 0.3 M NaCl). After the final wash, the plate was blotted on paper towels to remove excess wash buffer and then air-dried for 5 minutes. 60 μL of elution buffer (5 mM Tris-HCl pH 7.6), preheated to 70° C., was added to each well, the plate was incubated on a 90° C. hot plate for 5 minutes, and the eluate was then transferred to a fresh 96-well plate.

Cells grown on 100 mm or other standard plates may be treated similarly, using appropriate volumes of all solutions.

Total RNA Isolation

Total RNA was isolated using an RNEASY 96™ kit and buffers purchased from Qiagen Inc. (Valencia, Calif.) following the manufacturer's recommended procedures. Briefly, for cells grown on 96-well plates, growth medium was removed from the cells and each well was washed with 200 μL cold PBS. 150 μL Buffer RLT was added to each well and the plate vigorously agitated for 20 seconds. 150 μL of 70% ethanol was then added to each well and the contents mixed by pipetting three times up and down. The samples were then transferred to the RNEASY 96™ well plate attached to a QIAVAC™ manifold fitted with a waste collection tray and attached to a vacuum source. Vacuum was applied for 1 minute. 500 μL of Buffer RW1 was added to each well of the RNEASY 96™ plate and incubated for 15 minutes and the vacuum was again applied for 1 minute. An additional 500 μL of Buffer RW1 was added to each well of the RNEASY 96™ plate and the vacuum was applied for 2 minutes. 1 mL of Buffer RPE was then added to each well of the RNEASY 96™ plate and the vacuum applied for a period of 90 seconds. The Buffer RPE wash was then repeated and the vacuum was applied for an additional 3 minutes. The plate was then removed from the QIAVAC™ manifold and blotted dry on paper towels. The plate was then re-attached to the QIAVAC™ manifold fitted with a collection tube rack containing 1.2 mL collection tubes. RNA was then eluted by pipetting 140 μL of RNAse free water into each well, incubating 1 minute, and then applying the vacuum for 3 minutes.

The repetitive pipetting and elution steps may be automated using a QIAGEN Bio-Robot 9604 (Qiagen, Inc., Valencia Calif.). Essentially, after lysing of the cells on the culture plate, the plate is transferred to the robot deck where the pipetting, DNase treatment and elution steps are carried out.

Example 13

Real-Time Quantitative PCR Analysis of STAT5 mRNA Levels

Quantitation of STAT5 mRNA levels was accomplished by real-time quantitative PCR using the ABI PRISM™ 7600, 7700, or 7900 Sequence Detection System (PE-Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif.) according to manufacturer's instructions. This is a closed-tube, non-gel-based, fluorescence detection system which allows high-throughput quantitation of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products in real-time. As opposed to standard PCR in which amplification products are quantitated after the PCR is completed, products in real-time quantitative PCR are quantitated as they accumulate. This is accomplished by including in the PCR reaction an oligonucleotide probe that anneals specifically between the forward and reverse PCR primers, and contains two fluorescent dyes. A reporter dye (e.g., FAM or JOE, obtained from either PE-Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif., Operon Technologies Inc., Alameda, Calif. or Integrated DNA Technologies Inc., Coralville, Iowa) is attached to the 5′ end of the probe and a quencher dye (e.g., TAMRA, obtained from either PE-Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif., Operon Technologies Inc., Alameda, Calif. or Integrated DNA Technologies Inc., Coralville, Iowa) is attached to the 3′ end of the probe. When the probe and dyes are intact, reporter dye emission is quenched by the proximity of the 3′ quencher dye. During amplification, annealing of the probe to the target sequence creates a substrate that can be cleaved by the 5′-exonuclease activity of Taq polymerase. During the extension phase of the PCR amplification cycle, cleavage of the probe by Taq polymerase releases the reporter dye from the remainder of the probe (and hence from the quencher moiety) and a sequence-specific fluorescent signal is generated. With each cycle, additional reporter dye molecules are cleaved from their respective probes, and the fluorescence intensity is monitored at regular intervals by laser optics built into the ABI PRISM™ Sequence Detection System. In each assay, a series of parallel reactions containing serial dilutions of mRNA from untreated control samples generates a standard curve that is used to quantitate the percent inhibition after antisense oligonucleotide treatment of test samples.

Prior to quantitative PCR analysis, primer-probe sets specific to the target gene being measured are evaluated for their ability to be “multiplexed” with a GAPDH amplification reaction. In multiplexing, both the target gene and the internal standard gene GAPDH are amplified concurrently in a single sample. In this analysis, mRNA isolated from untreated cells is serially diluted. Each dilution is amplified in the presence of primer-probe sets specific for GAPDH only, target gene only (“single-plexing”), or both (multiplexing). Following PCR amplification, standard curves of GAPDH and target mRNA signal as a function of dilution are generated from both the single-plexed and multiplexed samples. If both the slope and correlation coefficient of the GAPDH and target signals generated from the multiplexed samples fall within 10% of their corresponding values generated from the single-plexed samples, the primer-probe set specific for that target is deemed multiplexable. Other methods of PCR are also known in the art.

PCR reagents were obtained from Invitrogen Corporation, (Carlsbad, Calif.). RT-PCR reactions were carried out by adding 20 μL PCR cocktail (2.5× PCR buffer minus MgCl₂, 6.6 mM MgCl₂, 375 μM each of dATP, dCTP, dCTP and dGTP, 375 nM each of forward primer and reverse primer, 125 nM of probe, 4 Units RNAse inhibitor, 1.25 Units PLATINUM® Taq, 5 Units MuLV reverse transcriptase, and 2.5× ROX dye) to 96-well plates containing 30 μL total RNA solution (20-200 ng). The RT reaction was carried out by incubation for 30 minutes at 48° C. Following a 10 minute incubation at 95° C. to activate the PLATINUM® Taq, 40 cycles of a two-step PCR protocol were carried out: 95° C. for 15 seconds (denaturation) followed by 60° C. for 1.5 minutes (annealing/extension).

Gene target quantities obtained by real time RT-PCR are normalized using either the expression level of GAPDH, a gene whose expression is constant, or by quantifying total RNA using RiboGreen (Molecular Probes, Inc. Eugene, Oreg.). GAPDH expression is quantified by real time RT-PCR, by being run simultaneously with the target, multiplexing, or separately. Total RNA is quantified using RiboGreen™ RNA quantification reagent (Molecular Probes, Inc. Eugene, Oreg.). Methods of RNA quantification by RiboGreen™ are taught in Jones, L. J., et al, (Analytical Biochemistry, 1998, 265, 368-374).

In this assay, 170 μL of RiboGreen™ working reagent (RiboGreen™ reagent diluted 1:350 in 10 mM Tris-HCl, 1 mM EDTA, pH 7.5) is pipetted into a 96-well plate containing 30 μL purified, cellular RNA. The plate is read in a CytoFluor 4000 (PE Applied Biosystems) with excitation at 485 nm and emission at 530 nm.

Probes and primers to human STAT5A were designed to hybridize to a human STAT5A sequence, using published sequence information (GenBank accession number NM_(—)003152.2, incorporated herein as SEQ ID NO: 4). For human STAT5A the PCR primers were: forward primer: AGAGTGCGCCGAGTCTGTCT (SEQ ID NO: 5) reverse primer: GCATTGAGTGCCTGCAGTGA (SEQ ID NO: 6) and the PCR probe was: FAM-TGTCATGGTAGAGACCGAGCCTCT-TAMRA (SEQ ID NO: 7) where FAM is the fluorescent dye and TAMRA is the quencher dye.

For human GAPDH the PCR primers were: forward primer: GAAGGTGAAGGTCGGAGTC(SEQ ID NO: 8) reverse primer: GAAGATGGTGATGGGATTTC (SEQ ID NO: 9) and the PCR probe was: 5′ JOE-CAAGCTTCCCGTTCTCAGCC- TAMRA 3′ (SEQ ID NO: 10) where JOE is the fluorescent reporter dye and TAMRA is the quencher dye.

Example 14

Northern Blot Analysis of STAT5 mRNA Levels

Eighteen hours after antisense treatment, cell monolayers were washed twice with cold PBS and lysed in 1 mL RNAZOL™ (TEL-TEST “B” Inc., Friendswood, Tex.). Total RNA was prepared following manufacturer's recommended protocols. Twenty micrograms of total RNA was fractionated by electrophoresis through 1.2% agarose gels containing 1.1% formaldehyde using a MOPS buffer system (AMRESCO, Inc. Solon, Ohio). RNA was transferred from the gel to HYBOND™-N+ nylon membranes (Amersham Pharmacia Biotech, Piscataway, N.J.) by overnight capillary transfer using a Northern/Southern Transfer buffer system (TEL-TEST “B” Inc., Friendswood, Tex.). RNA transfer was confirmed by UV visualization. Membranes were fixed by UV cross-linking using a STRATALINKER™ UV Crosslinker 2400 (Stratagene, Inc, La Jolla, Calif.) and then probed using QUICKHYB™ hybridization solution (Stratagene, La Jolla, Calif.) using manufacturer's recommendations for stringent conditions.

To detect human STAT5A, a human STAT5A specific probe was prepared by PCR using the forward primer AGAGTGCGCCGAGTCTGTCT (SEQ ID NO: 5) and the reverse primer GCATTGAGTGCCTGCAGTGA (SEQ ID NO: 6). To normalize for variations in loading and transfer efficiency membranes were stripped and probed for human glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) RNA (Clontech, Palo Alto, Calif.).

Hybridized membranes were visualized and quantitated using a PHOSPHORIMAGER™ and IMAGEQUANT™ Software V3.3 (Molecular Dynamics, Sunnyvale, Calif.). Data was normalized to GAPDH levels in untreated controls.

Example 15

Antisense Inhibition of Human STAT5A Expression by Chimeric Phosphorothioate Oligonucleotides Having 2′-MOE Wings and a Deoxy Gap

A series of antisense compounds was designed to target different regions of the human STAT5A RNA, using published sequences for human STAT5A (GenBank accession number NM_(—)003152.2, incorporated herein as SEQ ID NO: 4). The compounds are shown in Table 1. “Target site” indicates the first (5′-most) nucleotide number on the particular target sequence to which the compound binds. All compounds in Table 1 are chimeric oligonucleotides (“gapmers”) 20 nucleotides in length, composed of a central “gap” region consisting of ten 2′-deoxynucleotides, which is flanked on both sides (5′ and 3′ directions) by five-nucleotide “wings”. The wings are composed of 2′-methoxyethyl (2′-MOE) nucleotides. The internucleoside (backbone) linkages are phosphorothioate (P═S) throughout the oligonucleotide. All cytidine residues are 5-methylcytidines. The compounds were analyzed for their effect on STAT5A mRNA levels by transfection and quantitative real-time PCR as described in other examples herein. Data are averages from two experiments in which T-24 cells were treated with 150 nM of the antisense oligonucleotides. The positive control for each datapoint is identified in the table by sequence ID number. If present, “N.D.” indicates “no data”. TABLE 1 Inhibition of human STAT5A mRNA levels by chimeric phosphorothioate oligonucleotides having 2′-MOE wings and a deoxy gap TARGET SEQ CONTROL ISIS SEQ ID TARGET % ID SEQ ID # REGION NO SITE SEQUENCE INHIB NO NO 130817 Coding 4 1173 gcttggatcctcaggctctc 16 12 1 130818 Coding 4 1244 gcttctgctggagggccgtc 43 13 1 130820 Coding 4 1361 tgatggtctgctgcttccgc 75 14 1 130821 Coding 4 1559 gcatctcctccactgggccg 64 15 1 130824 Coding 4 1676 cggtggctgcaaacttggtc 78 16 1 130825 Coding 4 2117 gcacggcaaatggcaccctg 44 17 1 130826 Coding 4 2795 gggcctggtccatgtacgtg 36 18 1 153814 3′UTR 4 3681 gagcagctcagaaaccctca 73 19 1 153820 3′UTR 4 3895 accaaccctccaagtcccgg 77 20 1 315651 Coding 4 810 ccctccaggagctgggtggc 57 21 1 315652 Coding 4 820 ctgcaccaggccctccagga 80 22 1 315653 Coding 4 828 tgcagctcctgcaccaggcc 82 23 1 315654 Coding 4 837 gccttcttctgcagctcctg 75 24 1 315655 Coding 4 859 atcttcccccacctggtgct 56 25 1 315656 Coding 4 869 gtaaaaacccatcttccccc 51 26 1 315657 Coding 4 874 cttcagtaaaaacccatctt 42 27 1 315658 Coding 4 884 ccagcttgatcttcagtaaa 66 28 1 315659 Coding 4 891 tagtgccccagcttgatctt 66 29 1 315660 Coding 4 951 cggatgcagcggaccagctc 57 30 1 315661 Coding 4 997 attgttggcttctcggacca 67 31 1 315662 Coding 4 1083 accagtcgcagctcctcaaa 55 32 1 315663 Coding 4 1092 tcctgcgtgaccagtcgcag 78 33 1 315664 Coding 4 1100 tctctgtgtcctgcgtgacc 87 34 1 315665 Coding 4 1105 ctcattctctgtgtcctgcg 79 35 1 315666 Coding 4 1134 tactcctgagtctgctgcag 88 36 1 315667 Coding 4 1149 tactggatgatgaagtactc 63 37 1 315668 Coding 4 1164 ctcaggctctcctggtactg 58 38 1 315670 Coding 4 1181 caaactgagcttggatcctc 71 39 1 315671 Coding 4 1231 ggccgtctcccggctcagac 38 40 1 315672 Coding 4 1236 tggagggccgtctcccggct 83 41 1 315674 Coding 4 1256 ccagagacacctgcttctgc 68 42 1 315675 Coding 4 1266 aaccaggcctccagagacac 69 43 1 315676 Coding 4 1271 gctgcaaccaggcctccaga 74 44 1 315677 Coding 4 1281 tgtgcctcacgctgcaacca 80 45 1 315678 Coding 4 1291 ctgcagtgtctgtgcctcac 68 46 1 315679 Coding 4 1301 cgcggtactgctgcagtgtc 72 47 1 315680 Coding 4 1319 gcttctcggccagctccacg 74 48 1 315681 Coding 4 1324 ctggtgcttctcggccagct 80 49 1 315682 Coding 4 1332 agggtcttctggtgcttctc 0 50 1 315683 Coding 4 1337 gctgcagggtcttctggtgc 46 51 1 315684 Coding 4 1347 ttccgcagcagctgcagggt 43 52 1 315686 Coding 4 1367 ccaggatgatggtctgctgc 70 53 1 315687 Coding 4 1373 cgtcatccaggatgatggtc 56 54 1 315688 Coding 4 1391 gcttccactggatcagctcg 66 55 1 315689 Coding 4 1401 tgctgccgccgcttccactg 82 56 1 315690 Coding 4 1443 acgtccaggctgccctcggg 72 57 1 315691 Coding 4 1455 caggactgtagcacgtccag 80 58 1 315692 Coding 4 1465 cttctcacaccaggactgta 57 59 1 315693 Coding 4 1475 tctcggccaacttctcacac 62 60 1 315694 Coding 4 1485 tgccagatgatctcggccaa 69 61 1 315695 Coding 4 1495 ctgccggttctgccagatga 72 62 1 315696 Coding 4 1505 tgcggatctgctgccggttc 67 63 1 315697 Coding 4 1515 tgctcagccctgcggatctg 76 64 1 315698 Coding 4 1525 ctggcagaggtgctcagccc 75 65 1 315699 Coding 4 1536 atgggcagctgctggcagag 42 66 1 315701 Coding 4 1570 gacctcggccagcatctcct 50 67 1 315702 Coding 4 1591 aatgtccgtgatggtggcgt 74 68 1 315703 Coding 4 1600 ggctgagataatgtccgtga 70 69 1 315704 Coding 4 1610 tggtcaccagggctgagata 63 70 1 315705 Coding 4 1635 ggctgcttctcaatgatgaa 45 71 1 315706 Coding 4 1654 ggtcttcaggacctgaggag 73 72 1 315708 Coding 4 1741 gatggtggccttcacctggg 43 73 1 315709 Coding 4 1751 gctcactgatgatggtggcc 68 74 1 315710 Coding 4 1761 ttggcctgctgctcactgat 80 75 1 315711 Coding 4 1770 agcagagacttggcctgctg 77 76 1 315712 Coding 4 1848 gtggcttggtggtactccat 83 77 1 315714 Coding 4 2135 gccacagcactttgtcaggc 68 78 1 315715 Coding 4 2169 ttgaatttcatgttgagcgc 77 79 1 315716 Coding 4 2189 ggttgctctgcacttcggcc 43 80 1 315717 Coding 4 2209 gttctccttggtcaggcccc 66 81 1 315718 Coding 4 2229 ttctgcgccaggaacacgag 80 82 1 315719 Coding 4 2249 tgctgctgttgttgaacagt 74 83 1 315720 Coding 4 2269 actgtagtcctccaggtggc 43 84 1 315721 Coding 4 2277 gacaggccactgtagtcctc 35 85 1 315722 Coding 4 2703 tatccatcaacagctttagc 77 86 1 315723 Coding 4 2730 accacttgcttgatctgtgg 76 87 1 315724 Coding 4 2740 aaactcagggaccacttgct 80 88 1 315726 Coding 4 2843 tctgtgggtacatgttatag 79 89 1

As shown in Table 1, SEQ ID NOs 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 68, 69, 70, 72, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 81, 82, 83, 86, 87, 88 and 89 demonstrated at least 55% inhibition of human STAT5A expression in this assay and are therefore preferred. More preferred are SEQ ID NOs 36, 34, 77 and 23. The target regions to which these preferred sequences are complementary are herein referred to as “preferred target segments” and are therefore preferred for targeting by compounds described herein. These preferred target segments are shown in Table 2. These sequences are shown to contain thymine (T) but one of skill in the art will appreciate that thymine (T) is generally replaced by uracil (U) in RNA sequences. The sequences represent the reverse complement of the preferred antisense compounds shown in Table 1. “Target site” indicates the first (5′-most) nucleotide number on the particular target nucleic acid to which the oligonucleotide binds. Also shown in Table 2 is the species in which each of the preferred target segments was found. TABLE 2 Sequence and position of preferred target segments identified in STAT5A. TARGET REV COMP SEQ SITE SEQ ID TARGET OF SEQ ID ID NO SITE SEQUENCE ID ACTIVE IN NO 42321 4 1361 gcggaagcagcagaccatca 14 H. sapiens 90 42322 4 1559 cggcccagtggaggagatgc 15 H. sapiens 91 42325 4 1676 gaccaagtttgcagccaccg 16 H. sapiens 92 69127 4 3681 tgagggtttctgagctgctc 19 H. sapiens 93 69133 4 3895 ccgggacttggagggttggt 20 H. sapiens 94 231948 4 810 gccacccagctcctggaggg 21 H. sapiens 95 231949 4 820 tcctggagggcctggtgcag 22 H. sapiens 96 231950 4 828 ggcctggtgcaggagctgca 23 H. sapiens 97 231951 4 837 caggagctgcagaagaaggc 24 H. sapiens 98 231952 4 859 agcaccaggtgggggaagat 25 H. sapiens 99 231955 4 884 tttactgaagatcaagctgg 28 H. sapiens 100 231956 4 891 aagatcaagctggggcacta 29 H. sapiens 101 231957 4 951 gagctggtccgctgcatccg 30 H. sapiens 102 231958 4 997 tggtccgagaagccaacaat 31 H. sapiens 103 231959 4 1083 tttgaggagctgcgactggt 32 H. sapiens 104 231960 4 1092 ctgcgactggtcacgcagga 33 H. sapiens 105 231961 4 1100 ggtcacgcaggacacagaga 34 H. sapiens 106 231962 4 1105 cgcaggacacagagaatgag 35 H. sapiens 107 231963 4 1134 ctgcagcagactcaggagta 36 H. sapiens 108 231964 4 1149 gagtacttcatcatccagta 37 H. sapiens 109 231965 4 1164 cagtaccaggagagcctgag 38 H. sapiens 110 231967 4 1181 gaggatccaagctcagtttg 39 H. sapiens 111 231969 4 1236 agccgggagacggccctcca 41 H. sapiens 112 231971 4 1256 gcagaagcaggtgtctctgg 42 H. sapiens 113 231972 4 1266 gtgtctctggaggcctggtt 43 H. sapiens 114 231973 4 1271 tctggaggcctggttgcagc 44 H. sapiens 115 231974 4 1281 tggttgcagcgtgaggcaca 45 H. sapiens 116 231975 4 1291 gtgaggcacagacactgcag 46 H. sapiens 117 231976 4 1301 gacactgcagcagtaccgcg 47 H. sapiens 118 231977 4 1319 cgtggagctggccgagaagc 48 H. sapiens 119 231978 4 1324 agctggccgagaagcaccag 49 H. sapiens 120 231983 4 1367 gcagcagaccatcatcctgg 53 H. sapiens 121 231984 4 1373 gaccatcatcctggatgacg 54 H. sapiens 122 231985 4 1391 cgagctgatccagtggaagc 55 H. sapiens 123 231986 4 1401 cagtggaagcggcggcagca 56 H. sapiens 124 231987 4 1443 cccgagggcagcctggacgt 57 H. sapiens 125 231988 4 1455 ctggacgtgctacagtcctg 58 H. sapiens 126 231989 4 1465 tacagtcctggtgtgagaag 59 H. sapiens 127 231990 4 1475 gtgtgagaagttggccgaga 60 H. sapiens 128 231991 4 1485 ttggccgagatcatctggca 61 H. sapiens 129 231992 4 1495 tcatctggcagaaccggcag 62 H. sapiens 130 231993 4 1505 gaaccggcagcagatccgca 63 H. sapiens 131 231994 4 1515 cagatccgcagggctgagca 64 H. sapiens 132 231995 4 1525 gggctgagcacctctgccag 65 H. sapiens 133 231999 4 1591 acgccaccatcacggacatt 68 H. sapiens 134 232000 4 1600 tcacggacattatctcagcc 69 H. sapiens 135 232001 4 1610 tatctcagccctggtgacca 70 H. sapiens 136 232003 4 1654 ctcctcaggtcctgaagacc 72 H. sapiens 137 232006 4 1751 ggccaccatcatcagtgagc 74 H. sapiens 138 232007 4 1761 atcagtgagcagcaggccaa 75 H. sapiens 139 232008 4 1770 cagcaggccaagtctctgct 76 H. sapiens 140 232009 4 1848 atggagtaccaccaagccac 77 H. sapiens 141 232011 4 2135 gcctgacaaagtgctgtggc 78 H. sapiens 142 232012 4 2169 gcgctcaacatgaaattcaa 79 H. sapiens 143 232014 4 2209 ggggcctgaccaaggagaac 81 H. sapiens 144 232015 4 2229 ctcgtgttcctggcgcagaa 82 H. sapiens 145 232016 4 2249 actgttcaacaacagcagca 83 H. sapiens 146 232019 4 2703 gctaaagctgttgatggata 86 H. sapiens 147 232020 4 2730 ccacagatcaagcaagtggt 87 H. sapiens 148 232021 4 2740 agcaagtggtccctgagttt 88 H. sapiens 149 232023 4 2843 ctataacatgtacccacaga 89 H. sapiens 150

As these “preferred target segments” have been found by experimentation to be open to, and accesible for, hybridization with the antisense compounds described herein, one of skill in the art will recognize or be able to ascertain, using no more than routine experimentation, further embodiments that encompass other compounds that specifically hybridize to these preferred target segments and consequently inhibit the expression of STAT5.

Antisense compounds include antisense oligomeric compounds, antisense oligonucleotides, ribozymes, external guide sequence (EGS) oligonucleotides, alternate splicers, primers, probes, and other short oligomeric compounds which hybridize to at least a portion of the target nucleic acid.

The compounds described in Table 1 also target the human STAT5B isoform. In a further embodiment, the compounds were analyzed for their effect on STAT5B mRNA levels by quantitative real-time PCR as described in other examples herein. Probes and primers to human STAT5B were designed to hybridize to a human STAT5B sequence, using published sequence information (GenBank accession number U48730.2, incorporated herein as SEQ ID NO: 151). For human STAT5B the PCR primers were: forward primer: CTTCATCTTCACCAGAGGAATCACT (SEQ ID NO: 152) reverse primer: CTTCACATTATGAGTATTGTTTCAAAAGAG (SEQ ID NO: 153) and the PCR probe was: FAM-TGTGGATGTTTTAATTCCATGAATC-TAMRA (SEQ ID NO: 154) where FAM is the fluorescent dye and TAMRA is the quencher dye. Data are averages from two experiments in which T-24 cells were treated with 100 nM of the antisense oligonucleotides described herein. The positive control for each datapoint is identified in the table by sequence ID number. If present, “N.D.” indicates “no data”. If present, “-” indicates that no target site for a particular antisense compound is found in the referenced target sequence. TABLE 3 Inhibition of human STAT5B mRNA levels by chimeric phosphorothioate oligonucleotides having 2′-MOE wings and a deoxy gap TARGET SEQ CONTROL ISIS SEQ ID TARGET % ID SEQ ID # REGION NO SITE SEQUENCE INHIB NO NO 130817 Coding 151 543 gcttggatcctcaggctctc 76 12 1 130818 Coding 151 614 gcttctgctggagggccgtc 76 13 1 130820 Coding 151 731 tgatggtctgctgcttccgc 66 14 1 130821 Coding 151 929 gcatctcctccactgggccg 53 15 1 130824 Coding — — cggtggctgcaaacttggtc 86 16 1 130825 Coding 151 1487 gcacggcaaatggcaccctg 84 17 1 130826 Coding 151 2180 gggcctggtccatgtacgtg 69 18 1 153814 3′UTR — — gagcagctcagaaaccctca 3 19 1 153820 3′UTR — — accaaccctccaagtcccgg 8 20 1 315651 Coding 151 180 ccctccaggagctgggtggc 65 21 1 315652 Coding 151 190 ctgcaccaggccctccagga 89 22 1 315653 Coding 151 198 tgcagctcctgcaccaggcc 89 23 1 315654 Coding 151 207 gccttcttctgcagctcctg 87 24 1 315655 Coding 151 229 atcttcccccacctggtgct 45 25 1 315656 Coding 151 239 gtaaaaacccatcttccccc 49 26 1 315657 Coding 151 244 cttcagtaaaaacccatctt 39 27 1 315658 Coding 151 254 ccagcttgatcttcagtaaa 59 28 1 315659 Coding 151 261 tagtgccccagcttgatctt 43 29 1 315660 Coding 151 321 cggatgcagcggaccagctc 82 30 1 315661 Coding 151 367 attgttggcttctcggacca 63 31 1 315662 Coding 151 453 accagtcgcagctcctcaaa 64 32 1 315663 Coding 151 462 tcctgcgtgaccagtcgcag 80 33 1 315664 Coding 151 470 tctctgtgtcctgcgtgacc 86 34 1 315665 Coding 151 475 ctcattctctgtgtcctgcg 82 35 1 315666 Coding 151 504 tactcctgagtctgctgcag 88 36 1 315667 Coding 151 519 tactggatgatgaagtactc 67 37 1 315668 Coding 151 534 ctoaggctctcctggtactg 50 38 1 315670 Coding 151 551 caaactgagcttggatcctc 65 39 1 315671 Coding 151 601 ggccgtctcccggctcagac 75 40 1 315672 Coding 151 606 tggagggccgtctcccggct 88 41 1 315674 Coding 151 626 ccagagacacctgcttctgc 65 42 1 315675 Coding 151 636 aaccaggcctccagagacac 60 43 1 315676 Coding 151 641 gctgcaaccaggcctccaga 78 44 1 315677 Coding 151 651 tgtgcctcacgctgcaacca 81 45 1 315678 Coding 151 661 ctgcagtgtctgtgcctcac 80 46 1 315679 Coding 151 671 cgcggtactgctgcagtgtc 82 47 1 315680 Coding 151 689 gcttctcggccagctccacg 87 48 1 315681 Coding 151 694 ctggtgcttctcggccagct 90 49 1 315682 Coding 151 702 agggtcttctggtgcttctc 66 50 1 315683 Coding 151 707 gctgcagggtcttctggtgc 66 51 1 315684 Coding 151 717 ttccgcagcagctgcagggt 65 52 1 315686 coding 151 737 ccaggatgatggtctgctgc 85 53 1 315687 Coding 151 743 cgtcatccaggatgatggtc 78 54 1 315688 Coding 151 761 gcttccactggatcagctcg 68 55 1 315689 Coding 151 771 tgctgccgccgcttccactg 86 56 1 315690 Coding 151 813 acgtccaggctgccctcggg 80 57 1 315691 Coding 151 825 caggactgtagcacgtccag 71 58 1 315692 Coding 151 835 cttctcacaccaggactgta 55 59 1 315693 Coding 151 845 tctcggccaacttctcacac 70 60 1 315694 Coding 151 855 tgccagatgatctcggccaa 86 61 1 315695 Coding 151 865 ctgccggttctgccagatga 83 62 1 315696 Coding 151 875 tgcggatctgctgccggttc 69 63 1 315697 Coding 151 885 tgctcagccctgcggatctg 84 64 1 315698 Coding 151 895 ctggcagaggtgctcagccc 76 65 1 315699 Coding 151 906 atgggcagctgctggcagag 60 66 1 315701 Coding 151 940 gacctcggccagcatctcct 59 67 1 315702 Coding 151 961 aatgtccgtgatggtggcgt 80 68 1 315703 Coding 151 970 ggctgagataatgtccgtga 71 69 1 315704 Coding 151 980 tggtcaccagggctgagata 79 70 1 315705 Coding 151 1005 ggctgcttctcaatgatgaa 60 71 1 315706 Coding 151 1024 ggtcttcaggacctgaggag 78 72 1 315708 Coding 151 1111 gatggtggccttcacctggg 67 73 1 315709 Coding 151 1121 gctcactgatgatggtggcc 82 74 1 315710 Coding 151 1131 ttggcctgctgctcactgat 0 75 1 315711 Coding 151 1140 agcagagacttggcctgctg 58 76 1 315712 Coding 151 1218 gtggcttggtggtactccat 90 77 1 315714 Coding 151 1505 gccacagcactttgtcaggc 84 78 1 315715 Coding 151 1539 ttgaatttcatgttgagcgc 79 79 1 315716 Coding 151 1559 ggttgctctgcacttcggcc 75 80 1 315717 Coding 151 1579 gttctccttggtcaggcccc 80 81 1 315718 Coding 151 1599 ttctgcgccaggaacacgag 85 82 1 315719 Coding 151 1619 tgctgctgttgttgaacagt 72 83 1 315720 Coding 151 1639 actgtagtcctccaggtggc 73 84 1 315721 Coding 151 1647 gacaggccactgtagtcctc 74 85 1 315722 Coding 151 2088 tatccatcaacagctttagc 68 86 1 315723 Coding 151 2115 accacttgcttgatctgtgg 79 87 1 315724 Coding 151 2125 aaactcagggaccacttgct 77 88 1 315726 Coding 151 2228 tctgtgggtacatgttatag 78 89 1

As shown in Table 3, SEQ ID NOs 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 21, 22, 23, 24, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88 and 89, demonstrated at least 60% inhibition of human STAT5B expression in this assay and are therefore preferred. More preferred are SEQ ID NOs 77, 49, 22 and 23. In another embodiment, the antisense compounds disclosed herein optionally exclude ISIS 130826. The target regions to which these preferred sequences are complementary are herein referred to as “preferred target segments” and are therefore preferred for targeting by compounds described herein.

In another embodiment, a single antisense oligonucleotide is used to target and inhibit expression of nucleic acid encoding both STAT5A and STAT5B. For example, ISIS 315652 (SEQ ID NO: 22), 315653 (SEQ ID NO: 23), and 315715 (SEQ ID NO: 79) each result in similar inhibition of expression of both STAT5 isoforms (Tables 1 and 3). The use of any antisense compound targeted to STAT5 which inhibits expression of both STAT5 isoforms by at least about 10% is contemplated.

Example 16

Design of Chimeric Phosphorothioate Oligonucleotides Targeting Human STAT5 having 2′-MOE Wings and a Deoxy Gap

In a further embodiment, additional antisense compounds were designed to target different regions of the human STAT5 RNA, using published sequences for human STAT5A and human STAT5B (GenBank accession number NM_(—)003152.2, incorporated herein as SEQ ID NO: 4; GenBank accession number U48730.2, incorporated herein as SEQ ID NO: 151). The compounds are shown in Table 4. “Target site” indicates the first (5′-most) nucleotide number on the particular target sequence to which the compound binds. The target site for each antisense compound with respect to STAT5A or STAT5B is indicated. All compounds in Table 4 are chimeric oligonucleotides (“gapmers”) 20 nucleotides in length, composed of a central “gap” region consisting of ten 2′-deoxynucleotides, which is flanked on both sides (5′ and 3′ directions) by five-nucleotide “wings”. The wings are composed of 2′-methoxyethyl (2′-MOE)nucleotides. The internucleoside (backbone) linkages are phosphorothioate (P═S) throughout the oligonucleotide. All cytidine residues are 5-methylcytidines. TABLE 4 Chimeric phosphorothioate oligonucleotides targeting human STAT5 having 2′-MOE wings and a deoxy gap STAT5A STAT5B TARGET TARGET SEQ ISIS SEQ ID TARGET SEQ ID TARGET ID # REGION NO SITE NO SITE SEQUENCE NO 130819 Coding 4 1316 151 686 tctcggccagctccacgcgg 155 130822 Coding 4 1568 151 938 cctcggccagcatctcctcc 156 130823 Coding 4 1589 151 959 tgtccgtgatggtggcgttg 157 315669 Coding 4 1169 151 539 ggatcctcaggctctcctgg 158 315673 Coding 4 1251 151 621 gacacctgcttctgctggag 159 315685 Coding 4 1357 151 727 ggtctgctgcttccgcagca 160 315700 Coding 4 1558 151 928 catctcctccactgggccgg 161 315707 Coding 4 1668 151 1038 gcaaacttggtctgggtctt 162 315713 Coding 4 2115 151 1485 acggcaaatggcaccctgcc 163 315725 Coding 4 2792 151 2177 cctggtccatgtacgtggcg 164

Example 17

Design of Chimeric Phosphorothioate Oligonucleotides Targeting Human STAT5A having 2′-MOE Wings and a Deoxy Gap

In a further embodiment, additional antisense compounds were designed to target different regions of the human STAT5A RNA, using published sequences for human STAT5A (GenBank accession number NM_(—)003152.2, incorporated herein as SEQ ID NO: 4). The compounds are shown in Table 5. “Target site” indicates the first (5′-most) nucleotide number on the particular target sequence to which the compound binds. All compounds in Table 5 are chimeric nucleotides (“gapmers”) 20 nucleotides in length, composed of a central “gap” region consisting of ten 2′-deoxynucleotides, which is flanked on both sides (5′ and 3′ directions) by five-nucleotide “wings”. The wings are composed of 2′-methoxyethyl (2′-MOE)nucleotides. The internucleotide (backbone) linkages are phosphorothioate (P═S) throughout the oligonucleotide. All cytidine residues are 5-methylcytidines. TABLE 5 Chimeric phosphorothioate oligonucleotides targeting human STAT5A having 2′-MOE wings and a deoxy gap TARGET SEQ ISIS SEQ ID TARGET ID # REGION NO SITE SEQUENCE NO 153802 3′ UTR 4 3057 ccgcttcacattgcatattg 165 153803 3′ UTR 4 3060 cgaccgcttcacattgcata 166 153804 3′ UTR 4 3148 tgcacaaggacacacacaca 167 153805 3′ UTR 4 3159 ggcgtagctcatgcacaagg 168 153806 3′ UTR 4 3189 gccacatcccaggactgcac 169 153807 3′ UTR 4 3281 tgcagtgacagaggctcggt 170 153808 3′ UTR 4 3311 ggaggaataggtctggctgc 171 153809 3′ UTR 4 3318 gggcccaggaggaataggtc 172 153810 3′ UTR 4 3420 ggcaaagcttctcactccgg 173 153811 3′ UTR 4 3616 acgcgctctcatagggttca 174 153812 3′ UTR 4 3640 tgctaaggacatggccgggc 175 153813 3′ UTR 4 3669 aaccctcactcaaaccggcg 176 153815 3′ UTR 4 3709 gccaagcagccaagcaagga 177 153816 3′ UTR 4 3750 aaacgtgggcaacagcatca 178 153817 3′ UTR 4 3807 gagaggcaagcaaagaaggc 179 153818 3′ UTR 4 3863 cccaccatatcctagaccca 180 153819 3′ UTR 4 3871 cctgtccacccaccatatcc 181 153821 3′ UTR 4 3907 ggaggcaagaggaccaaccc 182 153822 3′ UTR 4 3910 ccaggaggcaagaggaccaa 183 153823 3′ UTR 4 3985 ccagattccacaggcacgca 184 153824 3′ UTR 4 4023 ccagcggagtcaaaccagat 185 153825 3′ UTR 4 4081 gcctcaccagaacacagcca 186 153826 3′ UTR 4 4155 tcttccatggtcagctgccc 187 153827 3′ UTR 4 4165 gggctctcaatcttccatgg 188

The antisense compounds in Table 5 were tested for their ability to reduce STAT5A protein expression in the human TF-1 erythroleukemia cell line. TF-1 cells were cultured in RPMI 1640 medium supplemented with 10% heat-inactivated fetal bovine serum (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, Mo.), 10 mM Hepes, pH 7.2, 50 μM 2-ME, 2 mM L-glutamine, 100 U/ml penicillin, 100 μg/ml streptomycin (all supplements from Invitrogen Corporation, Carlsbad, Calif.). ISIS 153814 (SEQ ID NO: 19) and ISIS 153820 (SEQ ID NO: 20) were also tested. 1×10⁷ cells were transfected with 10 μM concentration of antisense oligonucleotides by electroporation (48 ohms, 1200 microFarads, 175 Volts), using a BTX electroporator (San Diego, Calif.). Cells electroporated in the presence of phosphate-buffered saline alone served as controls. Cells were harvested 48 hours following oligonucleotide treatment, and STAT5A protein levels were assessed using Western blot analysis.

Western blot analysis (immunoblot analysis) was carried out using standard methods. Cells were washed once with PBS, suspended in Laemmli buffer (100 μL/well), boiled for 5 minutes and loaded on an 8% SDS-PAGE gel. Gels were run for 1.5 hours at 150 V, and transferred to nitrocellulose for western blotting. Primary antibody directed to STAT5A was used (Upstate Biotechnology, Inc., Charlottesville, Va.) and visualized using enhanced chemiluminescence. Bands were visualized using a PHOSPHORIMAGER™ (Molecular Dynamics, Sunnyvale Calif.).

SEQ ID NOs 19, 20, 172, 173, 175, 176, 180, 181 and 182 were able to reduce STAT5A protein expression by at least 30%, demonstrating that the treatment of cultured cells with antisense compounds interferes with STAT5A protein expression.

Example 18

Antisense Inhibition of Human STAT5 Expression by Chimeric Phosphorothioate Oligonucleotides Having 2′-MOE Wings and a Deoxy Gap

In a further embodiment, additional antisense compounds were designed to target different regions of the human STAT5B RNA, using published sequences for human STAT5B (GenBank accession number U48730.2, incorporated herein as SEQ ID NO: 151). “Target site” indicates the first (5′-most) nucleotide number on the particular target sequence to which the compound binds. The target site for both STAT5 isoforms is indicated for each antisense compound. If present, “-” indicates that no target site for a particular antisense compound is found in the referenced target sequence. All compounds in Table 6 are chimeric oligonucleotides (“gapmers”) 20 nucleotides in length, composed of a central “gap” region consisting of ten 2′-deoxynucleotides, which is flanked on both sides (5′ and 3′ directions) by five-nucleotide “wings”. The wings are composed of 2′-methoxyethyl (2′-MOE) nucleotides. The internucleoside (backbone) linkages are phosphorothioate (P═S) throughout the oligonucleotide. All cytidine residues are 5-methylcytidines. TABLE 6 Chimeric oligonucleotides targeted to human STAT5A and STAT5B having 2′MOE wings and deoxy gaps STAT5B STAT5A TARGET TARGET SEQ ISIS SEQ ID TARGET SEQ ID TARGET ID # REGION NO SITE NO SITE SEQUENCE NO 168517 Start 151 1 — — cacagccatggtttacccgg 189 codon 168518 Coding 151 87 — — tgccgcacctcaatgggaaa 190 168519 Coding 151 406 — — ggacatggcatcagcaaggc 191 168520 Coding 151 616 4 1246 ctgcttctgctggagggccg 192 168521 Coding 151 639 4 1269 tgcaaccaggcctccagaga 193 168522 Coding 151 698 4 1328 tcttctggtgcttctcggcc 194 168523 Coding 151 843 4 1473 tcggccaacttctcacacca 195 168524 Coding 151 927 4 1557 atctcctccactgggccggg 196 168525 Coding 151 1174 — — gccactgtaatcattgcggg 197 168526 Coding 151 1358 — — ccagctcatttccaccaaca 198 168527 Coding 151 1429 — — cgtcgcattgttgtcctggc 199 168528 Coding 151 1499 4 2129 gcactttgtcaggcacggca 200 168529 Coding 151 1625 4 2255 ggtggctgctgctgttgttg 201 168530 Coding 151 1657 — — ccaggacacagacaggccac 202 168531 Coding 151 1661 — — gggaccaggacacagacagg 203 168532 Coding 151 1808 — — ggtcatgggcctgttgcttg 204 168533 Coding 151 1871 — — tgccgccaatttctgagtca 205 168534 Coding 151 1983 — — ttcaagtctcccaagcggtc 206 168535 Coding 151 1985 — — aattcaagtctcccaagcgg 207 168536 Coding 151 2014 — — tggccgatcaggaaacacgt 208 168537 Coding 151 2282 — — ccattgtgtcctccagatcg 209 168538 Coding 151 2331 — — tgactgtccattggccggcc 210 168539 Coding 151 2343 — — tgcgggatccactgactgtc 211 168540 Stop 151 2378 — — tgaagatggagaggtcgcgg 212 codon 168541 3′UTR 151 2512 — — gccaccatgcacagaaacac 213

The compounds in Table 6 were analyzed for their effect on STAT5A and STAT5B mRNA levels in Molt-4 cells. ISIS 153820 (SEQ ID NO: 20), which targets only human STAT5A, was used as a control for the inhibition of STAT5A. The human T lymphoblast cell line, Molt 4, as cultured in RPMI-1640 containing 10% fetal bovine serum, 1% L-glutamine, 10 mM Hepes, and 5×10⁻⁵ M 2-mercaptoethanol (all culture reagents from Invitrogen Corporation, Carlsbad, Calif.). 1×10⁷ cells were transfected with 10 μM concentration of antisense oligonucleotides by electroporation (48 ohms, 1200 microFarads, 175 Volts), using a BTX electroporator (San Diego, Calif.). Cells electroporated in the presence of phosphate-buffered saline served as controls. mRNA levels were monitored 16 hours following transfection. STAT5A and STAT5B expression levels were measured by quantitative real-time PCR as described in other examples herein. Data were normalized to control samples. If present, “-” indicates that no target site for a particular antisense compound is found in the references target sequence. TABLE 7 Antisense inhibition of human STAT5B by chimeric oligonucleotides having 2′MOE wings and deoxy gaps STAT5B STAT5A TARGET TARGET SEQ SEQ ID TARGET % SEQ ID TARGET % ID ISIS # Region NO SITE INHIB NO SITE INHIB NO 153820 3′UTR — — 0 4 3311 45 20 168517 Start codon 151 1 18 — — 14 189 168518 Coding 151 87 56 — — 0 190 168519 Coding 151 406 43 — — 6 191 168520 Coding 151 616 28 4 1246 0 192 168521 Coding 151 639 12 4 1269 10 193 168522 Coding 151 698 66 4 1328 23 194 168524 Coding 151 927 81 4 1557 17 196 168525 Coding 151 1174 70 — — 4 197 168526 Coding 151 1358 57 — — 5 198 168527 Coding 151 1429 75 — — 22 199 168528 Coding 151 1499 78 4 2129 59 200 168529 Coding 151 1625 50 4 2255 0 201 168530 Coding 151 1657 42 — — 39 202 168531 Coding 151 1661 3 — — 7 203 168532 Coding 151 1808 66 — — 16 204 168533 Coding 151 1871 83 — — 21 205 168534 Coding 151 1983 49 — — 22 206 168535 Coding 151 1985 39 — — 3 207 168536 Coding 151 2014 69 — — 11 208 168537 Coding 151 2282 65 — — 4 209 168538 Coding 151 2331 70 — — 50 210 168539 Coding 151 2343 75 — — 19 211 168540 Stop codon 151 2378 30 — — 20 212 168541 3′UTR 151 2512 73 — — 0 213

These data demonstrate that SEQ ID NOs 190, 191, 196, 197, 198, 201, 204, 205, 207, 208, 209, 211 and 213 exhibit greater than 40% inhibition of STAT5B and less than 20% inhibition STAT5A. 

1-20. (canceled)
 21. An antisense oligonucleotide 12 to 50 nucleobases in length targeted to a nucleic acid molecule encoding STAT5A or STAT5B, wherein said antisense oligonucleotide is at least 80% complementary to nucleotides 1083-1124 of STAT5A (SEQ ID NO: 4) or nucleotides 453-494 of STAT5B (SEQ ID NO: 151).
 22. The antisense oligonucleotide of claim 21 which is 15 to 30 nucleobases in length.
 23. The antisense oligonucleotide of claim 21 wherein said antisense oligonucleotide is at least 85% complementary to nucleotides 1083-1124 of STAT5A (SEQ ID NO: 4) or nucleotides 453-494 of STAT5B (SEQ ID NO: 151).
 24. The antisense oligonucleotide of claim 21 wherein said antisense, oligonucleotide is at least 90% complementary to nucleotides 1083-1124 of STAT5A (SEQ ID NO: 4) or nucleotides 453-494 of STAT5B (SEQ ID NO: 151).
 25. The antisense oligonucleotide of claim 21 wherein said antisense oligonucleotide is at least 95% complementary to nucleotides 1083-1124 of STAT5A (SEQ ID NO: 4) or nucleotides 453-494 of STAT5B (SEQ ID NO: 151).
 26. The antisense oligonucleotide of claim 21 comprising at least one modified sugar moiety, nucleobase or internucleoside linkage.
 27. The antisense oligonucleotide of claim 26 wherein said modified sugar moiety is a 2′-O-methoxytheyl.
 28. The antisense oligonucleotide of claim 26 wherein said modified nucleobase is a 5-methylcytosine.
 29. The antisense oligonucleotide of claim 26 wherein said modified internucleoside linkage is a phosphorothioate.
 30. The antisense oligonucleotide of claim 21 which is a chimeric oligonucleotide comprising a central region of 2′-deoxynucleotides flanked on the 5′ and 3′ ends by 2′-O-methoxyethyl nucleotides.
 31. An antisense oligonucleotide 12 to 50 nucleobases in length targeted to a nucleic acid molecule encoding STAT5A or STAT5B, wherein said antisense oligonucleotide is at least 80% complementary to nucleotides 1256-1366, 1848-1867 or 2269-2296 of STAT5A (SEQ ID NO: 4) or nucleotides. 626-736, 1218-1237 or 1639-1666 of STAT5B (SEQ ID NO: 151).
 32. The antisense oligonucleotide of claim 31, wherein said antisense oligonucleotide is at least 80% complementary to nucleotides 1848-1867 of STATSA (SEQ ID NO: 4) or nucleotides 1218-1237 of STAT5B (SEQ ID NO: 151).
 33. The antisense oligonucleotide of claim 31, wherein said antisense oligonucleotide is at least 80% complementary to nucleotides 1256-1366 of STATSA (SEQ ID NO: 4) or nucleotides 626-736 of STAT5B (SEQ ID NO: 151).
 34. The antisense oligonucleotide of claim 31, wherein said antisense oligonucleotide is at least 80% complementary to nucleotides 2269-2296 of STAT5A (SEQ ID NO: 4) or nucleotides 1639-1666 of STAT5B (SEQ ID NO: 151).
 35. An antisense oligonucleotide 12 to 50 nucleobases in length targeted to a nucleic acid molecule encoding STAT5A, wherein said antisense oligonucleotide is at least 80% complementary to the 3′UTR of STAT5A (SEQ ID NO: 4). 